England selectors must use the absence of injured Kevin Pietersen to reinstate Nick Compton in the top order for the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford next week.
Compton, many cricket fans argue, was wrongly left out of the squad following relatively poor displays in England’s home series with New Zealand earlier this spring. Joe Root was instead named the surprise opener alongside Alastair Cook and bar Root’s 180 in the second innings at Lord’s the opening pair haven’t really worked.
Nick Compton (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Clearly a change is needed before the third Test and with Kevin Pietersen out with a calf strain it’s time for Compton to come back in. The 30-year-old has been wasting his summer batting in Somerset’s T20 games and has a point to prove to England selectors. Those who read the cricket news know how capable he is in Test whites. Compton knocked a solid half-century in the third Test against India as he and Cook made 165 before the first wicket, while he earned two Test tons in New Zealand three months later.
Granted, his form dipped in the resulting series on home soil but everyone is subject to a blip or two. Pietersen himself isn’t exactly firing right now and may have been subject to being dropped had he not pulled his calf.
The selection should be a simple one. Drop Root down to fiveand move Ian Bell to Pietersen’s fourth position – Root has played there before and is capable of propping up a collapse – and place Compton where he belongs alongside Cook. This pair knows how to bat together and how to frustrate the Australian attack, which will come out determined to right their wrongs of Tests one and two.
England need a steady head to survive the Old Trafford onslaught and Compton is the man to provide it. Let’s just hope selectors think the same way.
