 Born in Warnham, Sussex, as a cricketer Cox was primarily an attacking right-handed batsman, also an occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler and in his youth a fine cover fielder.Cox played for Sussex and had a first-class career which started in 1931.He went on to play 455 first-class matches, making 22949 runs at an average of 32.92, that included 50 centuries, with a highest score of 234 not out.