Nick Compton has spoken frankly about his search for form, the pressure of opening the batting for England and the critics who have suggested he does not deserve to feature in this summer's Ashes series.
Compton, not out on 139 overnight, eventually scored 166 for Somerset against Durham yesterday – his fourth first-class century of 2013.
Having been ordered by England team director Andy Flower to go back to his county and score LV= County Championship runs in order to prove he merits keeping his Test place, Compton did just that – helping his side to 458 all out, before Durham reached 163-3.
Many are questioning whether Compton should play in the opening Ashes Test on July 10, having averaged 9.75 in the recent series victory over New Zealand.
And, speaking of his century against Durham, which could hardly have come at a better time, Compton said: "I'm very happy – and I think relieved as well – but I've never thought it was far away. I think people have made a lot more of it than it actually is.
"I've been consistent for almost three years now and you can always go through a bit of bad form. I was maybe searching for the ball a little bit – and, when that happens, you tend to play out in front of you and you get in trouble, especially against the new ball. It's not rocket science.
"But going out there and rectifying some of those issues and getting back to basics, getting back to a place where it's been consistent and familiar over the last couple of years, was obviously what was needed."
Compton scored back-to-back hundreds in New Zealand in March, before a disappointing home series against the same opponents, which had many pundits suggesting Joe Root should open the batting against Australia next month.
"I think I felt quite a lot [of pressure] during the series against New Zealand, just because I'd come back from a very good series over there and wanted to further push my case and cement my place," he said.
"It was my first home series and I wanted to start off well, because there's obviously a big summer ahead. But perhaps I looked a little too far ahead and put myself under the pump more than I should have. It can happen – it's easily done – and I've been through ups and downs before.
"Your true character and your flaws get revealed in high-pressure situations and, all being good, there's still a big summer ahead, and it's nice to have maybe got that out of the way and had a chance to come back and refocus.
"Things have gone well for a long period of time, so your expectations of yourself and your performances go up in your own mind as well, and suddenly when it doesn't quite happen you might search a little bit. I think every player has gone through it, every top player has certainly gone through it, so it's important you learn from it and not make too much of it.
"I've scored four hundreds this year – so it's not been that doom and gloom. I don't think there are many batsmen in the world who have scored four hundreds this year in the long form of the game, so I'm by no means going to be too down. Hopefully some of the critics out there will take notice."
Of those critics, both Michael Vaughan and Geoffrey Boycott have been particularly vocal about Compton, suggesting he should be dropped for the Ashes.
"I've taken it with a pinch of salt," said Compton. "One thing I will say is that the various critics that have been around, Vaughan and Boycott and what have you, they know a huge amount about cricket, but what they don't know is a huge amount about me.
"I always believe in my character and my ability and I think what I have realised with some of the characters that I have played with in the England team is that you need that in abundance.
"The stronger players in the team, the ones who have been around for a while, really don't read any of it – even the highs. You are never as good as they say you are and you're never as bad as they say you are – you are somewhere in between.
"People have written about how intense I am and that kind of thing, but I don't see myself as being massively intense. I want to succeed and I want to do well, there's no doubt about that, so when it comes to my cricket, I take it seriously.
"But the more relaxed, chilled, grumpy – if you want to call it that – I am, the more I just play each ball on its merits and don't look for any heirs and graces in the delivery. In some of the England games, I've tried to be up for it and I've tried to be awake and alive, but I think all that has done is created a bit more anxiety and I've ended up pushing at the ball."
Compton, who paid tribute to Somerset captain Marcus Trescothick for the way in which he has supported him recently, was eventually dismissed for 166, caught behind off young spinner Ryan Buckley's first ball of the day.
From their overnight 336-5, Somerset reached 458, with the majority of their batsmen making meaningful contributions. Pete Trego fell for 42 to a remarkable catch from Paul Collingwood off Buckley, before Craig Meschede went for 12 as he tried to pull his bat away from a short Mark Wood delivery and was held behind.
Jamie Overton added 24 before mistiming as he tried to slog Scott Borthwick and being caught at point, while George Dockrell added 31 – his best score for Somerset – before he was held at midwicket off the same bowler.
Durham reached 163-3 from 44.3 overs in reply, with Keaton Jennings driving an Overton half-volley to James Hildreth at slip for 15, Borthwick falling victim to Dockrell's spin for 56, and Overton striking again in the final over to dismiss Will Smith for 7.
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