Saturday 11 April 2015 12:22, UK
Nick Compton hopes big runs for Middlesex this season will give him a second chance with England.
Compton has rejoined Middlesex after a spell with Somerset. He opened the batting for England between November 2012 and May 2013. In nine Tests he scored two centuries and averaged 31, but he was then jettisoned by the selectors.
England have a new coach and a new set of selectors in place now, and Compton hopes that he can batter open the door to the Test match team ahead of an Ashes summer by scoring runs for Middlesex.
“There’s been a few changes so hopefully it’s a blank canvas for everyone,” he told Sky Sports News HQ.
“That’s the way it should be – it should be the best XI. If I get some runs then the time I had in the past with England won’t be forgotten.
“I grew up wanting to be an international cricketer, playing for England. Then to have it taken away is a tough one. It’s something you have to come to terms with because it’s not in your control. But scoring runs and being consistent is.”
Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s Director of Cricket, is an England selector, and that may aid his cause, but Compton says that will only be the case if he scores runs.
“Gus is a professional man. He’s a very passionate Middlesex man. But being at Lord’s is good showcase. The pitch is good for bat and ball so it’s going to be a good challenge,” he said. “It’s great – you don’t get a better setting than Lord’s do you?”
Middlesex have shown a great deal of promise in recent seasons, but no end result, with title challenges falling away.
The addition of Compton goes some way to addressing their weakest suit – the batting – and although opener Chris Rogers, prolific last season, is not returning, Adam Voges will be available for the start of the season.
Voges, 35, had the season of his career in the Sheffield Shield, and earned a recall to the Test squad ahead of this summer’s Ashes series. He will be available for the first four matches of the season though and Middlesex are looking to him to give them a flying start to the Division One campaign.
“We’ve got high hopes,” Compton said. “Looking around there squad there are some very good players.
“The addition of Adam Voges – who has just been selected for Australia – is a very good one. Steven Finn looks like he’s firing and ready to go.
“I definitely come here with high hopes. I want to score a lot of runs, first and foremost.
“I need to try and earn the trust of my new team-mates. The guys have done well over the last few years. Now it’s about forming that bond, getting a bit stronger and a bit more competitive.”
