Compton is an ardent admirer of Ben Stokes
Nick Compton didn’t quite call himself a dinosaur when he spoke at a chilly Chesterle-Street on Wednesday but the England batsman admits he is a dying breed in the modern game.
The 32-year-old batsman’s international career itself is perhaps close to extinction unless he can make a significant score when the second Investec Test against Sri Lanka starts here at Durham on Friday. However, as his England future reaches crisis point, he is in no mood to compromise on a method even he concedes can be boring to watch.
In an era where the influence of Twenty20 is threatening to become total, Compton’s staid, methodical and conservative batting style jars with the prevailing mood. If Ben Stokes, unfortunately injured for his home Test here, is a player who empties bars and toilets when he comes out to bat, the opposite is true of England’s No 3.
“The way the game’s going, I think people are drawn towards a certain glamour,” Compton said. “Some players provide that and people want to see more of that. That’s great, we’re in the entertainment business, it’s about getting bums on seats and I suppose watching Ben Stokes’ 200 is better than watching Compton’s 80.
“If I’m honest with you, if I was sitting on the couch I’d rather watch Stokes’ 200. I’m by no means unaware of that. That’s what people want to see. But when you look at my job, the new ball is tough and the way that I play doesn’t always look that pretty. But I don’t want to change my style. I think when you’re not playing well your style doesn’t look so great but when you are it feels good inside, you feel that confidence. I’ve been there before so I know what I’m looking for. But words are cheap.”
Many would be surprised to see Compton survive beyond this series. Picked for the first Test despite a far-from-stellar series in South Africa last winter, his form for Middlesex this summer, for whom his top score is 44, has been even worse. So, a three-ball duck during England’s innings win at Headingley last week was evidence of a man who is not only out of form but who appears affected by the criticism of his performances. THE INDEPENDENT