THEY fell just short of an astonishing Treble, but Durham at long last have a team to match their magnificent home. That was the message last night from a tired, slightly emotional, but hugely proud coach Geoff Cook as his men returned to Riverside for the final time this season. But with it came a warning from the coach that Durham’s best is still to come. Having beaten Kent inside three days to put themselves temporarily top of the County Championship, Durham were, as expected, pipped to the title when Sussex wrapped up victory over Worcestershire yesterday lunchtime. But with Lancashire failing in their epic run chase against Surrey, Cook’s side could celebrate a runners-up spot to go with their Friends Provident Trophy triumph and NatWest Pro40 Division Two title. For a coach only appointed in March following Martyn Moxon’s sudden departure, it capped a memorable six months. “The team has had some tough years while the club has moved on tremendously off the field, building a fabulous Test ground,” said Cook. “It was up to the players and the coaches to get the cricket side of things on a par with those progressions. That was the aim at the start of the year and we’ve gone some way towards achieving that.” Some way, and then some. “I don’t think anybody within the club thought that what has been achieved this season could be achieved,” admitted Cook. “We were hoping we would feature in one of the trophies but to feature in everything bar the Twenty20 shows remarkable resilience from the players. “They just kept bouncing back, supporting each other and turning in some outstanding individual performances and really entertaining cricket.” But then, the warning. “Now it’s for the players not to relax and think they’ve made it,” said the man whose work this season has built upon his long-time role as director of cricket. “They’ve got to look at areas in which they can improve collectively and individually. “They will go away to work on those things, and we’ll get together later on in the winter to work on fitness and on what we’ve done this year.” Clearly, despite his open-ended contractual situation, Cook sees himself remaining at the helm. “It’s just been a fantastic few months, and I’m glad we’ve given the spectators something to look forward to next year,” he added. “Hopefully, this is the start of something even bigger.” | 
