Denis Compton

Denis Charles Scott Compton was born in England and was a right handed batsman for his national team. He was also a slow left-arm chinaman. Besides cricket, Compton was also a very good football player and played for the Arsenal F. C. team. As a cricketer, he stayed with the Middlesex team for his entire career.

While growing up, Compton studied at the Elementary School and joined the MCC groundstaff in 1934 at the Lord’s. He was an all-rounder for his team as he played a total of 78 test matches and 515 first-class matches. His test cricket debut came against New Zealand in 1937 while he played his final test match against South Africa after 20 years in 1957. His test cricket record speaks for him having scored 5,807 runs at an average of 50.06 with a top score of 278 runs as well as having taken a total of 25 wickets with an average of 56.40. His best bowling recorded on charts is 5 wickets for 70 runs and he also took 5 wickets in an innings on one occasion.

In 1950-51, Compton toured Australia as a vice-captain of the team but could not perform to his best owing to a leg-injury. He was known for his absent-mindedness. In 1955 for a match against South Africa at the Old Tafford Compton turned up without his kit. He ended up scoring 155 and 79 runs using an antique bat borrowed from the museum.

In his later years after retiring from playing cricket professionally, Compton opted for journalism and further later became a commentator for the BBC Television.

Career Highlights

Compton was awarded a CBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1958.

He was honored as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1939.

In 2009, the ICC inducted Compton into their Cricket Hall of Fame.