Nick Compton announces retirement from cricket
After a long and successful professional career, Middlesex Cricket confirms the retirement of Nick Compton.
Since joining the club from school, Nick has been a player who demonstrated a rare level of commitment, professionalism and dedication that drove him to achieve England recognition and two Test centuries.
His professional career with us began in List-A cricket in 2001 and his first-class debut in 2004 extended the legendary relationship between Middlesex Cricket and the Compton family. This dates back to 1936 when Nick’s grand-father Denis Compton, perhaps the club’s greatest ever player, played the first of his 515 first-class matches for us.Nick has contributed to the family’s special history with cricket by playing in 402 1st XI matches across his career.
Middlesex Cricket CEO Richard Goatley said:
“It is a sad day for us that Nick Compton has retired from professional cricket. Nick has been a very special servant to the club, culminating in his key role in the Championship winning success of 2016.
“Nick is highly valued by Middlesex Cricket and we are delighted that he will remain with the club in an ambassadorial role. We welcome his all-round ability, and want him to add further value by helping to inspire our future success in an off the field capacity.
“He has contributed effectively towards the club’s off-field work in the past, both with our senior leadership team and the commercial team at Lord’s, and we look forward to extending that work in the future.
“Nick Compton will always be welcome at Lord’s.”
On his retirement Nick Compton said:
“After almost two decades of professional cricket, I am announcing my retirement from the game I love so much.
“It has been a privilege to play first-class cricket for Middlesex, Somerset, and the MCC.
“Of course, the pinnacle of my career was following in my grandfather Denis Compton’s footsteps, having achieved my dream of playing and winning Test series for England.
“I am particularly proud of my successful opening partnership with Alastair Cook and our series victory in India, the first time in 28 years an England team has won in India.
“There have been some challenges that I have had to confront, but in spite of these I feel incredibly fortunate to have had this career of mine. For one, being named one of Wisden's 5 Cricketers of the Year in the 150th Anniversary Edition alongside both my cricketing hero Jacques Kallis, and my school friend Hashim Amla.
“Other highlights include being chosen as PCA Player of the Year by my peers after coming so close to being the first cricketer for 25 years to score 1,000 runs before the end of May is another, up there with making my Test debut in India and receiving my cap from England legend Graham Gooch.
“I treasure the 16 Test matches I played for England, especially my back-to-back Test hundreds which I scored in New Zealand. On the domestic front, what a team I played in at Somerset. And winning the County Championship at Lord’s on the final day of the 2016 season for Middlesex provided all involved with an experience that we will savour for the rest of our lives.
“It seems fitting that I have decided to retire now - 2018 is the year which my club, Middlesex, awarded me a Testimonial Year. It is also my grandfather's centenary and it gives me huge pride in being able to pay tribute to someone that has left such a positive legacy in my life and in British sport.
“I am delighted that I will be continuing my association with Middlesex Cricket in an ambassadorial capacity, both at Lord’s and in India - a country which is close to my heart. By remaining connected to cricket, I hope to continue developing and mentoring young cricketers, especially those who have a desire to excel.
“I look forward to pursuing my other interests, particularly in the media and photography as well as working on a few business ventures.
“Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family especially, and also my ‘inner circle’, for the support they have given me. I hope I did all I could to keep the Compton Family flag flying.”
