Ben Compton feeling the benefit of training freedom at Nottinghamshire
Compton, who signed a one-year contract extension at the end of the 2020 campaign, saw his planned winter posting to Zimbabwe called off because of the pandemic. But the opener now plans to make the most of an extended period at Trent Bridge to focus solely on his game.
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Hide Ad“My training before Christmas had a really strong red-ball focus, because I was planning to be in Zimbabwe playing four-day cricket round about now,” he said during an interview with the club’s official website.
“All sport over there has been put on hold – but we all recognise how lucky we are to even be training, so it’s just one of those things you’ve got to deal with.
“And now I’ve got this block of time to mix my training up if I want. The coaches stress to us that we’ve got a lot of freedom in terms of how we want to go about things, which I really enjoy.
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Hide Ad“It allows you to go on feel, look at your feedback from previous seasons or sessions and emphasise those areas and skills that you need to improve.”
Compton made his breakthrough into the Notts first team towards the end of the 2019 season, making two appearances at the top of the order.
Although the 26-year-old was unable to add to his first-team tally during a severely curtailed 2020 campaign, he maintains a positive outlook on his progress over the last 12 months.
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Hide Ad“The past year gave me a chance to gel into the squad, get to know the lads well and figure out what my role in the team is,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve got my feet under the table, and the fact that everyone gets along with each other well is a real bonus.”
With his background in South African cricket, Compton’s pathway into the professional game has been somewhat different to many of his teammates.
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Hide AdBut he feels the blend of backgrounds in the home dressing room, with Academy graduates rubbing shoulders with international stars, helps to generate a harmonious atmosphere.
“Sport brings people together,” he said. “The varied experiences we’ve had in the squad allow us to gel as people over different experiences and upbringings.