Nick Compton named among Wisden cricketers of the year

England batsman follows grandfather in earning accolade

Rory Dollard
Wednesday 10 April 2013 10:23 BST
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England's Nick Compton (left) celebrates reaching his century
England's Nick Compton (left) celebrates reaching his century

England batsman Nick Compton has been named as one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year, joining his grandfather Denis who earned the accolade in 1939.

Compton is the only Englishman to receive the prestigious nod, which can only be given to an individual once in their career.

South African trio Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn join Compton, as does West Indian Marlon Samuels, while Australia captain Michael Clarke was named leading cricketer in the world.

The cricketers of the year are nominated for their achievements in the previous English summer, with the Proteas players rewarded for their 2-0 Test series win over a home side they ultimately replaced as world number ones.

Samuels, meanwhile, joined them having excelled for the West Indies earlier in the summer in the face of defeat.

For Compton, though, it is recognition of a stunning season for Somerset in the county game.

A late bloomer with a great lineage to live up to, 29-year-old Compton amassed 1,494 first-class runs last term - averaging a remarkable figure of 99.6.

Compton almost became the first man since 1988 to break 1,000 first-class runs before the end of May - indeed only rain at New Road denied him that - and made hay on early-season surfaces that were otherwise proving ideal for seam bowling.

Of course, as well as a cricketer of the year award his form also won Compton an England call for the winter tours of India and New Zealand and he appears to have cemented his place as Andrew Strauss' replacement in time for a first Ashes this summer.

Of the overseas contingent, the inclusion of Kallis is most surprising. Not because he was deemed worthy, but that it had not already happened before.

The 37-year-old all-rounder is a colossus of the modern game and a key part of the South Africa side who so skilfully dismantled England on their own turf on their way to becoming the world's number one Test side.

Amla and Steyn are equally strong picks, the key batsman and key bowler in the sport's most formidable unit.

Samuels, meanwhile, has a fitting memento from a summer where he entertained as much in his press conferences as he did at the crease and inarguably came of age as a cricketer.

Clarke's extraordinary batting feats make him a worthy choice as leading cricketer in the world, a relatively new award given here for the 10th time.

Eight others have won it - with Virender Sehwag doing so twice - including two other Australians in Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting.

PA

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