Cook, 45, is less than three weeks into his new role as Central North Zone Academy Coach, replacing Rod Bryant.

The former first-class cricketer was bitten by the coaching bug late in his playing days and now he's hung up the whites, wants to impart the knowledge gleaned during a fine career to the next generation.

"The role takes in from the Hunter, places such as Maitland and Cessnock, through to Moree and Narrabri, Armidale, Inverell and Glen in the Northern Tablelands and of course Tamworth and Gunnedah," Cook said.

"I'll be working to identify talents from under-13 to the under-19 age groups in the boys and Luke Knight is overseeing the girls program."

Cook, also head coach of the Cricket Australia Indigenous side, believes the game is in good shape throughout the region as the impact of the Big Bash League flows through to the grassroots.

"I think the junior numbers are pretty healthy," he said.

"My generation grew up watching Test cricket, where as this generation is all over the Big Bash.

"If it is getting kids onto cricket fields then that is a good thing."

Cook will oversee a program which has coaches looking after specific regions.

Northern Tablelands: Brett Rankin (coach), Dave Mudaliar (assistant). Far West: Craig Trindall (coach), Andy Craig (assistant). North West: Terry Brown (coach), Peter Mead (assistant). Hunter Valley: Barry Smith (coach).

"The majority of the coaches have played for NSW Country and are great cricket people,” Cook said.

"They'll hold six regional sessions to identify the players capable of playing for Central North and we'll work with them from June to August."

Cook, who started his coaching journey at the Northamptonshire Second XI, has pinpointed a professional attitude as imperative.

"Unlike kids in Sydney who train three times a week, we might only be able to get the kids together for once a month," he said.

"So if we're going to bridge the gap, we've got to be professional in our expectations and particularly our training standards.

"We've got parents who might make a six-hour round trip for a training session, so it is about ensuring the kids get plenty from those sessions.

"We'll look to take them out of their comfort zones and not just be content with playing for Central North, but striving for greater representative honours."