MINOR Counties used to have a regular game against overseas touring sides until the late 1990s and Derek Cole was frequently in the line-up for the games.

   He made his debut against New Zealand at Newcastle in 1958, opening the batting with Phil Sharpe, later of Yorkshire and England, and made 23 in a total of 305 for seven declared. The game was abandoned as a draw due to rain.

   The New Zealand side included their legendary batsman Bert Sutcliffe.

   The following year saw a rare event: a win for the Minor Counties. Cole scored 36 and 22 as they defeated India by six wickets at Stoke-on-Trent.

   Cole's next call up was, appropriately, at Torquay in 1962 when the Pakistanis were in town. He made 70, the top score in the game, which also ended in a draw.

  Derek is pictured left going out to bat in the first innings of that match.

   Cole was captain for his last two appearances against touring opposition: Pakistan at Swindon in 1967 and Bill Lawry's Australians back at Torquay in 1968.

   The Minors were on course for victory on the third day when Cole was run-out 32 runs short and the tail crumbled to a defeat by 23 runs.

   Weather ruined Cole's swansong as the game against Australia was badly interrupted by rain over the three days.

   Other big games he played in included a game against the 1954 Pakistani tourists for Devon at Torquay. More than 5,000 spectators packed into the ground to watch the two-day fixture.

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