Was England's Denis Compton a home track bully?

[SLcric123]

I have heard from many posters that Compton is arguably England best batsmen in last 50 years and is rated very highly.

However, I was a bit shocked to see his home- away stats disparity. He averages 60 at home and in comparison only avgs 36 away with just 4 hundred.

Considering such a big difference, is it correct to call him ATG or even better than any England batsmen during this period? Is he a better batsmen than KP, Boycott, Cook and Gooch, all did better away from home?

I would like some older posters to elaborate on that part.

 

[Robert]

That's interesting. He was a very good traveller, or so I read. Loved RSA and eventually settled there.

He was supposed to be the best player of spin we ever produced, "as non-creasebound as it was posible to be" to quote John Cleese, who bowled at his once when he turned up to Cleese's school.

There was that year in the CC when he ran riot with his mate Edrich. Compo got eighteen centuries in the season or something.

 

[Tusker]

I have heard from many posters that Compton is arguably England best batsmen in last 50 years and is rated very highly.

However, I was a bit shocked to see his home- away stats disparity. He averages 60 at home and in comparison only avgs 36 away with just 4 hundred.

Considering such a big difference, is it correct to call him ATG or even better than any England batsmen during this period? Is he a better batsmen than KP, Boycott, Cook and Gooch, all did better away from home?

I would like some older posters to elaborate on that part.

Compton started playing cricket before WWII ( 1937 ) and last played in 1957 ... thats practically a pre-historic ERA as far as cricket is concerned. So not sure what you mean by "best England batsman in last 50 yrs". Personally I would never ever rate anyone from those OLD ERAs above any modern player. Invariably the older ERA players are over hyped beyond belief.

Back then the only opponent that mattered was Australia, County cricket was very popular , Nobody had the means to check and analyze stats like we can today. I doubt even he new about his away stats. Very different times.

 

[Robert]

WI and SA provided strong opposition back then too.

Interestingly, Hutton averaged 55 away, to Compton's 36. Peter May averaged 47 overall but 36 away. So it seems fair to say that Compo and PBH were HTBs!

Cardus wrote: Never have I been so deeply touched on a cricket ground as in this heavenly summer, when I went to Lord's to see a pale-faced crowd, existing on rations, the rocket-bomb still in the ears of most, and see the strain of anxiety and affliction passed from all hearts and shoulders at the sight of Compton in full sail ... each stroke a flick of delight, a propulsion of happy, sane, healthy life. There were no rations in an innings by Compton.

 

[Ab Fan]

WI and SA provided strong opposition back then too.

Interestingly, Hutton averaged 55 away, to Compton's 36. Peter May averaged 47 overall but 36 away. So it seems fair to say that Compo and PBH were HTBs!

Cardus wrote: Never have I been so deeply touched on a cricket ground as in this heavenly summer, when I went to Lord's to see a pale-faced crowd, existing on rations, the rocket-bomb still in the ears of most, and see the strain of anxiety and affliction passed from all hearts and shoulders at the sight of Compton in full sail ... each stroke a flick of delight, a propulsion of happy, sane, healthy life. There were no rations in an innings by Compton.

Can those two be rated higher than Gooch, Boycott, KP and Cook given their performance away from home? I dont think so.

 

[Robert]

Interestingly, David Gower averaged 50 away to 44 overall.