Nick Compton to take indefinite break from cricket

Nick Compton, the English middle-order batsman, has decided to take a break from cricket “with immediate effect”. The English and Wales Cricket Board, as well as the Middlesex Cricket Board, have agreed to the break.

Compton, 32, was under fire after experiencing a lull in form since having returned to the national side after a gap of more than one and a half years. In the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, he managed to aggregate just 51 runs from five innings. He made a comeback in November last year on the tour to South Africa, scoring an 85 at Durban, the city of his birth. There, he compiled 245 runs from eight innings at an average of 30.6. Compton made his debut against India at Ahmedabad in November 2012, partnering Cook at the top of the order. He scored 9 and 37 in his first Test.

Angus Fraser, the Managing Director of Middlesex cricket stated: "We all believe some time away now will allow him to refresh, recharge and return to play the sort of cricket we all know he is capable of producing”.

Compton has played 16 Tests for the national side, scoring 775 runs at an average of 28.7 with two centuries to his credit. Both his centuries came three years ago, during his second international tour in New Zealand. The grandson of former English player Denis Compton, he accepted before the second Test that he was playing for a place in the side and that is style was not "that pretty".

The South Africa-born player has not scored a half-century in his previous 12 innings and turns 33 on June 26. He played the final Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, scoring 1 in the first innings. Asked to open in the second innings along with Hales, he managed 19 before succumbing to the bowling of Shaminda Eranga.

His form at Middlesex has also not been inspiring either, having managed just 100 runs from four innings with a best score of 44. The County also responded to the break, saying “Middlesex County Cricket Club and the English Cricket management have agreed for Nick Compton to be given a period of time away from cricket. Following a challenging start to the 2016 season, both physically and mentally, it has been agreed that the best way forward is for Compton to spend some time away from the game.”

“During this period Nick will receive the full support of Middlesex and the England Cricket team management”, Fraser added.