Nick Compton and the Holy Grail

Last year we got momentarily excited when Marcus Trescothick nearly secured the Holy Grail of 1,000 first-class runs by the end of May.

Trescothick would have been the first batsman to achieve the feat since 1988 when Graeme Hick set expectations of the international career he would be eligible to start for England three summers later.

This time it is the turn of Trescothick's Somerset team mate who has enjoyed a relevatory start to the season and with the game at Worcester starting tomorrow probably has one chance to the 59 runs he needs to become the ninth batsman to emulate Indiana Jones and sup the elixir of life from the Grail.

WG Grace was the first to achieve the feat in 1895 and was followed by Tom Hayward (1900), Wally Hammond (1927), Charles Hallows (1928), Don Bradman (1930 and 1938), Bill Edrich (1938) and Glenn Turner (1973) before Hick (1988). Even Compton's illustrious grandfather didn't manage to achieve this milestone.

If the season continues to start earlier and earlier each year, the chances are that this exclusive club could increase its membership on a far more regular basis. But that shouldn't detract from Compton's sublime performances this year.

Hick was helped in no small measure by the 405 he scored at Taunton for Worcestershire, so it would be rather apt if Somerset's Compton emulated him at Worcester tomorrow or Thursday.

Where next?

Nick Compton: runs and jokes at Kevin Pietersen's expense

Kevin Pietersen is innocent (and right about Nick Knight)

Hedley Verity - a proper hero with 'no breaking point'

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Comments

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sometimes my sister tells me that Nick Compton looks more like a model than a cricketer and sometimes I think the same based on his performance LOL