Compton given chance to shine

Feb 26 2013

Nick Compton was granted his chance after all to press his claims to continue as a Test match opener for England in the warm-up match against a New Zealand XI.

Compton was named to open alongside Alastair Cook, with Joe Root still down at number six, in a team also notable for the absence of rested frontline pace pair James Anderson and Steven Finn.

Graham Onions and Chris Woakes could therefore both put their name forward as a possible third seamer for the Test series, a position currently occupied by Stuart Broad.

Compton, meanwhile, was set to have an immediate opportunity to prove his credentials after England lost the toss and were put in on a glorious morning at the Queenstown Events Centre ground.