The nature of cricket and sport more generally, is that quite often things don’t always go the way you would like. You may be injured at a crucial time just when you’re reaching form, you may be searching for runs when you know it may be your last chance or you may be playing well and doing the right things but still you can’t find a place in the team. People often say to me that it must be great to do something you love, to be in the sun all day, and 99% of the time this is true, but it can still be one of the most frustrating and stressful businesses out there.
I have been playing second-team games in the middle of nowhere with a mixture of young professionals learning their game and club cricketers looking to catch the eye of the second-team coach (or sometimes merely making up the numbers). In many ways it is even more of a challenge to play well in this arena. The bowling does not have the same quality as first-class cricket, so the intensity is considerably lower and the inevitable goal of achieving promotion or success in the various competitions isn’t there. After being in the first team for most of the last three years, it can be hard not to allow my standards to slip, but I think for these reasons you have to rely on yourself even more. I aim to do well and not to allow the nature of the game, the varying intensities of the players and the lack of good facilities to pull me down. Really I’m making it sound like one big excuse culture and at the heart of it that’s what it is. You can make the best of any situation and that only comes down to a simple choice.
If you had taken a look at the football pages of the newspapers in the past month you would see that all the euphoria surrounds the Premiership and Champions League races, but more specifically the heroes who have got their respective teams to the top. Ronaldo, Rooney, Lampard and Drogba are just a few of the big stars on show - but what happens when one of them gets injured or they have a bad season? No one writes about the Chelsea or Manchester United players who are not currently involved, the ones who are palmed off on loan for half a season to some First Division team miles away from their so-called home ground. They’ve got profile otherwise they wouldn’t have been signed by a big club and with that comes huge pride and both internal and external expectation; so to spend your time on loan has to be a very hard and painful route to go. They are not playing for the club whom they have loyalty. Their team mates forget them because they are not involved in the everyday hustle and bustle and what’s more the team they are playing for isn’t their own, so ultimately it must be a lonely existence.
That is what really interests me about sport. Justin Langer once said to a team-mate when he played for Middlesex, "If you get your runs no-one can touch you." What a true statement - but does this cloud our judgement? When a player is doing well everyone wants to know them. People they deleted from their mobile years ago call them up. Their parents are happy and full of pride. The local press man is suddenly friendly and wants to do a feature. Sponsors suddenly deliver an extra bat in the post when normally the allocation is three per season and team-mates are enjoying their company.
Then there are the times when a player is struggling to reach a hundred or take a bagful of wickets. Scoring runs or taking wickets should have absolutely no bearing on whether someone is a good bloke or not. Sport loves to find reasons why a player has failed. When you find yourself in that situation you have to learn to balance your emotions and not simply be happy when you are doing well and sad when not – though this is easier said than done.
Despite what is going on around me, whether it be team selection, an injury or stories in the press, my priority is to make sure that when that first delivery is bowled I am watching it like a hawk. If I can do that well then it gives me another opportunity to face the next ball and so on. Maybe writing this blog will prove to be more a reinforcement to my own development than of any interest to anyone else. Nevertheless it does make me admire those who have achieved in this game that much more. Not just the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, who has 10 million screaming fans following him around India daily, but the lower profile cricketer too, because everyone has their challenges however big or small.
So what do professional cricketers do on their day off? Most of the time is spent trying to scrub off hard-earned grass stains from the game just gone. It’s always a sign that you’ve got involved and made some sort of contribution. Between doing the washing, hanging it up on the couch, over the door or somewhere in the kitchen because there are no washing lines in London, you try to get some good couch time with the missus or even the ex for that matter. However, it isn’t long before you’re cruising up the M1 again. It is pretty much head down and full steam ahead once the early season weather dissipates.
The one thing I love about playing cricket in hot weather is that when you come off from a competitive game you are hot and sweaty and you feel like you’ve really got into the competition. I think when we spoke last I was talking about my first experience of playing in the snow, two weeks on and how things have changed – with a week of scorching weather in the lead-up to the first Test, followed by days of rain and cold wind again.
But whatever the summer brings, a good game of cricket with suntan lotion on is always going to be better than being stuck in a stuffy office - for the time being anyway!
Comments
Posted by: Rick Dagless at May 18, 2008 7:19 PM
Stick at it, Compo.
You'll be back.
Great blog, too.
Posted by: Ram at May 19, 2008 4:16 AM
Great article, mate! And, especially considering I, a decent bastman, scored 0 (1) batting at No. 9 (don't ask me why).
For professional players like you this is your source of livelihood. So I guess scoring runs and taking wickets is a lot more important.
Honestly, I din't know a Nick Compton played cricket. But, from now on I will be following your career very closely. Best of luck, mate.
Posted by: Isam at May 19, 2008 5:08 AM
I know what you feel like dude. Stick at it..you'll be back.
Posted by: Boundary Man at May 19, 2008 8:44 AM
Head down - Spirit Up Nick! The opportunities are just around the corner - you just can't see them right now. A First class ton by end of June - there's your target.
Posted by: Redders at May 19, 2008 1:59 PM
A fantastic piece Nick...full of insight and honesty.
All the very best for the rest of the season and beyond.
Posted by: Lee Brissett at May 20, 2008 6:17 AM
A great piece, squire. If you are interested in playing your off season back home in SA (2008/9), please contact Lee.
Email address; Lee.Brissett@umgeni.co.za
All the best for the rest of the season.
Posted by: Sarah Griffin at May 20, 2008 8:28 AM
The Boston Red Sox are looking for a pitcher! (or there is always rounders!).
Much love...
Posted by: Tony Bradshaw at May 20, 2008 8:29 AM
I run a charity with the same name! Need some help?
Posted by: Moggy at May 20, 2008 9:28 AM
Stick with it Nick, a bad run comes to an end just as a good run does. Stay positive mate. Oh and share any tips for getting grass stains out of your whites!
Posted by: myers at May 20, 2008 9:57 AM
and yet the england team seem to prefer sitting in the dressing room whilst supporters sit around in ok light, so not fair but keep it up
Posted by: Zahran at May 20, 2008 11:43 AM
A truly fantastic piece. Something I am sure lots of readers can relate to – afterall, how many of us actually make it big in first class cricket. Stick with it…..before you know it you’ll be scoring enough runs mate. All the best for the rest of the season.
Posted by: Richie at May 20, 2008 12:18 PM
Nick,
Excellent article, great insight & perspective.
Head down, do the simple things well & things will turn round, form is temporary...
Posted by: tazza at May 20, 2008 3:49 PM
great article! when ur not in form u just gotta think about the basics. forget the about the high tech stuff whether ur feet are at the right place! Just play!
Posted by: Tuffers at May 20, 2008 7:48 PM
Good article Nick, remember in life it isn't how far you fall, but how far back you bounce. All but the very best go off form and get shunted into the reserves or drink carrying duty at some stage in their careers, but those who come back and then prosper usually do so because they have that bit of mental strength which is the difference between talented and successful and talented, but an also ran. Make sure you are in the former group, take nothing for granted, even in 2nd XI cricket.
Posted by: Nick Compton at May 20, 2008 9:21 PM
Thanks for the kind words everyone. In terms of the grass stains thats a goodie.. Buy a green bottle of mould remover and spray it on,, does the trick! Thanks again
Posted by: Mally at May 21, 2008 8:27 AM
If you fancy some more intensive cricket then North Enfield 3rd XI are a bit short this Saturday, Letchworth 4th XI away, normally a good tea...Keep going Nick, you are good enough to make it mate.
Posted by: SHRIRAM at May 21, 2008 8:32 AM
Enjoy every moment the game offers.Isn't that is what the game give?Play the game honestly and with fullest dedication.Accept whatever the game gives back to you.The most important thing is when you sit in a beach and think about your playing days after you quit you must be able to have a smile in your lips and joy of satisfaction filled in your heart.
Posted by: Alan Curr at May 22, 2008 11:03 AM
Hi Nick,
I've seen you play in the first team a few times and it's pretty clear you're a classy bat. I didn't realise until I read this that you'd been dropped, just thought you were injured.
One big score and you'll be back in the first team, and it's onwards and upwards from there.
Good luck with it pal.
Posted by: Henry at May 22, 2008 12:20 PM
Nick
Interesting piece. I understand about your point about motivation in a 2nd 11 game and not only the lack of motivation but also the motivation your DO feel to be playing for the 1st team - esentially its 1st team sucess or nothing.
Also any runs you score for the 2nds are against lesser bowlers so what does a ton for the seconds really mean.
What it means is this. Confidence. You know you are putting the bad balls away and finding the gaps. The same outcome you would be looking for if you were in a 1st 11 game or an England game for that matter.
So from now on focus on simply finding the gaps and being patient when the bowling does not prevent bad balls.
All the best
Henry
Posted by: brian at May 27, 2008 10:50 AM
Hi Nick. As everybody else is saying, please stick with it - and with Middlesex! Every class batsman has a bad "trot" but comes back - your Middx colleague Andrew Strauss is the most recent example! You have shown how good a batsman you are already over the past few seasons. I think you are good enough to play for England one day! Indeed,I look forward to your first hundred for England!
As an aside, and as a Middx member, of long standing, I must say I am baffled by their team selection this season. Maybe there are issues I am not aware of, but the team results to date are not entirely increasing my confidence! But of couse I will support the team through bad and good times. I just hope they support you in the same way!
Good luck for the future! You deserve it!
Brian
Posted by: Mohammed Pardesi at May 27, 2008 6:11 PM
Compo its Mo from the Windies tour. You got enough support here man just do what u do best an trust you'll be back with a bang with sum big scores trust you're a class player u just need sum confidence and ul onli get that if u believe in yourself and there enough people hu believe in u so keep your head up
Posted by: Troy at May 31, 2008 8:54 AM
Stick with it Nick, a ton of runs against them and you are on your way to the 1st XI and then, who knows?
The selectors are watching more closely than you think.
Make your cricket a touch above the ones around.
Posted by: Jeremy Thorpe at June 2, 2008 10:30 AM
There is a lot of sound psychology in response to your excellent blog. However, having followed your career from South Africa I am bemused at your being dropped. We all know confidence is an indispensable attitude for success but I would feel rewarded if Middlesex management showed a touch of loyalty towards you considering your averages and scrores over the past two years.
Posted by: fineleg at June 3, 2008 6:53 PM
Keep going, keep working and it'll all fall into
place. Best wishes from a Glamorgan fan and Heaven knows we've had a nightmare start ourselves! Roll on Twenty 20!
Posted by: John G at June 5, 2008 9:03 PM
It can be difficult sometimes, particularly if for years you have been praised and this has increased your confidence. now you need to find that same confidence from other sources. Find inspiration and decide how much you want to achieve in the game. At your stage ability is almost a side issue.
Posted by: Huw Nathan at June 6, 2008 9:21 AM
You have written a thought provoking article. I do hope that you recover from your spell out of the limelight and come back stronger than ever. You will never be forgotten, but also work a little on your off-spin as well.
Posted by: Mustafa Moiz at June 8, 2008 10:24 AM
Stick it at it, Compost. Good article and you'll be playing first class soon.
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The Contributors
James Foster was still a student for Durham University when he was called up to the England A squad in 2000-01, before progressing to full
international honours the following winter. However, he broke his arm in the nets early in the 2002 season which allowed Alec Stewart back into the side and he has played just one further Test, at Melbourne in 2002-03. But two strong seasons have put him back in the frame and he was part of the England Lions squad during the 2007-08 winter tour to India. He was appointed
Essex's vice captain in 2007.
Nick Compton, grandson of the legendary Denis, was raised in South Africa before moving to Harrow as a teenager. Like many young South Africans, he excelled at handball sports and, although he took some time to
cement his place, he's been a consistent and elegant batsman at the
top of the order for Middlesex ever since. This winter, instead of
spending it in the gym, he and Graham Napier trekked in the foothills
of Mount Everest to stage the world's highest ever cricket match.
Will Smith was 22 when he sparked Nottinghamshire's interest with a fine 156 for Durham Universities in 2005, and it was enough to earn him a
contract and three games with the county in their Championship-winning
season. A strong opening batsman, he had to wait until 2006 to hit his
maiden first-class hundred following a winter in which he had double
hernia and shoulder operations. He joined Durham in 2007 and has a
range of curious nicknames: Posh Kid, Smudge and Jiggy.
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