Nick Compton retires: ‘I did all I could to keep the family flag flying’

The 35-year-old featured in 16 Tests between November 2012 and June 2016, scoring 775 runs at an average of 28.70, which included two centuries. The right-hander was one of a plethora of opening batsman to feature alongside Alastair Cook after the retirement of Andrew Strauss.

Compton is best remembered for scoring back-to-back Test hundreds against New Zealand in 2013 and helping his country to a series victory in India the same year – the first time in 28 years an England team had won there.

The batsman made his first-class bow for Middlesex in 2004 – the club his grandfather Denis represented with distinction from 1936 to 1964 – and spent five seasons with Somerset before rejoining the Lord’s-based side in 2014. However, he did not feature for the county during the 2018 campaign.

“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,” the former England international was quoted as saying on Middlesex’s website.

“I am particularly proud of my successful opening partnership with Alastair Cook and our series victory 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.

“It seems fitting that I have decided to retire now – 2018 is the year 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 hope I did all I could to keep the Compton Family flag flying."

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. We are delighted that he will remain with the club in an ambassadorial role.”