View source for Denis Compton

{{Short description|English cricketer (1918–1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Denis Compton
| image =Denis Compton 1936.jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Compton in about 1936
| country = England
| fullname = Denis Charles Scott Compton
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1918|5|23}}
| birth_place = [[Hendon]], [[Middlesex]], England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|1997|4|23|1918|5|23}}
| death_place = [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]], Berkshire, England
| heightft = 5
| heightinch = 10
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = [[Left-arm unorthodox spin]]
| family = [[Leslie Compton]] (brother)<br /> Brian Compton <br  /> (son) <br />[[Richard Compton (cricketer)|Richard Compton]] (son)<br />[[Patrick Compton]] (son)<br />[[Ben Compton (cricketer)|Ben Compton]] (grandson) <br />[[Nick Compton]] (grandson)
Charlotte Compton (daughter)
Victoria Compton (daughter)
| international = true
| testdebutdate = 14 August
| testdebutyear = 1937
| testdebutagainst = New Zealand
| testcap = 297
| lasttestdate = 5 March
| lasttestyear = 1957
| lasttestagainst = South Africa
| club1 = [[Marylebone Cricket Club]]
| year1 = 1936–1964
| club2 = [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]]
| year2 = 1936–1958
| club3 = [[Europeans cricket team|Europeans]]
| year3 = {{nowrap|1944/45–1945/46}}
| club4 = [[Madhya Pradesh cricket team|Holkar]]
| year4 = 1944/45
| columns = 2
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| matches1 = 78
| runs1 = 5,807
| bat avg1 = 50.06
| 100s/50s1 = 17/28
| top score1 = 278
| deliveries1 = 2,710
| wickets1 = 25
| bowl avg1 = 56.40
| fivefor1 = 1
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 5/70
| catches/stumpings1 = 49/–
| column2 = [[First-class cricket|First-class]]
| matches2 = 515
| runs2 = 38,942
| bat avg2 = 51.85
| 100s/50s2 = 123/183
| top score2 = 300
| deliveries2 = 36,640
| wickets2 = 622
| bowl avg2 = 32.27
| fivefor2 = 19
| tenfor2 = 3
| best bowling2 = 7/36
| catches/stumpings2 = 416/–
| date = 15 August
| year = 2022
| source = http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/10777.html ESPNcricinfo
}}
'''Denis Charles Scott Compton''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE}} (23 May 1918 – 23 April 1997) was an English [[List of multi-sport athletes|multi-sportsman]]. As a [[cricket]]er he played in 78 [[Test cricket|Test matches]] and spent his whole career with [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]]. As a [[association football|footballer]], he played as a winger and spent most of his career at [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], where he would win both the top flight and F.A. Cup.<ref name=Arsenal>{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/profiles/142/denis-compton|title=Denis Compton|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305080723/http://www.arsenal.com/history/profiles/142/denis-compton|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>

A right-handed batsman and [[left-arm unorthodox spin]] bowler, Compton is regularly credited as one of England's most remarkable batsmen.<ref name="cricpro">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/10777.html|title=Player Profile: Denis Compton|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=6 December 2012}}</ref> Indeed, Sir [[Don Bradman]] said he was one of the greatest cricket players he'd ever seen.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lord's Cricket Ground|first=n/a|date=27 November 2020|title=Coaching Masterclass from Don Bradman with Richie Benaud|url=https://www.facebook.com/HomeOfCricket/videos/1157484791299185|access-date=27 November 2020|website=Facebook}}</ref> He is one of only twenty-five players to have scored over one hundred centuries in first-class cricket.<ref>[[List of batsmen who have scored 100 centuries in first-class cricket]]</ref> In 2009, Compton was posthumously inducted into the [[ICC Cricket Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesportscampus.com/200907171413/test-cricket/hof-inducted |title=Benaud, Gooch, Compton, Larwood and Woolley inducted into Cricket Hall of Fame |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912060100/http://www.thesportscampus.com/200907171413/test-cricket/hof-inducted |archive-date=12 September 2012 |work=The Sport Campus|date=18 July 2009 |author=Wadhwa, Arjun }}</ref> The [[Denis Compton Oval]] and a stand at [[Lord's Cricket Ground]] are both named in his honour.<ref name=DCO>{{cite web|url=http://www.shenleycricketcentre.co.uk/cricket|title=Cricket at London Shenley Club|website=Shenley Cricket Centre.co.uk|access-date=11 July 2017|archive-date=18 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118031109/http://www.shenleycricketcentre.co.uk/cricket|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lords.org/news/our-blogs/the-cricket-history-blog/a-stand-to-name-stands-after/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826124321/https://www.lords.org/news/our-blogs/the-cricket-history-blog/a-stand-to-name-stands-after/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 August 2013|title=A STAND TO NAME STANDS AFTER|website=Lords.org|date=9 August 2012 }}</ref>

==Cricket career==

===Early years===
[[File:Denis Compton 1939-12-20.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Compton in 1939 as a gunner in the army]]
Compton was born and brought up in what was then the urban district of [[Hendon]], which later became part of [[Greater London]]; his father had moved there in hopes of finding more work. He was the second son and youngest child of Henry Ernest Compton, a self-employed painter and decorator, later a lorry driver when his business failed,<ref>''Denis Compton: The Authorized Biography'', Tim Heald, Pavilion, 2006, p. 5</ref><ref>[https://archive.acscricket.com/famous_cricketers/39/5/ Profile], acscricket.com. Accessed 13 September 2022.</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/25/world/denis-compton-78-cricketer-who-lifted-britain-s-spirits.html | title=Denis Compton, 78, Cricketer Who Lifted Britain's Spirits | newspaper=The New York Times | date=25 April 1997 | last1=Lyall | first1=Sarah }}</ref> and Jessie Anne ({{nee}} Duthie);<ref>{{Cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-63003|isbn = 978-0-19-861412-8|doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/63003|title = The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|year = 2004}}</ref> he had one elder brother, [[Leslie Compton|Leslie Harry]] (1912–1984) and one elder sister, Hilda Dorothy (1913–2002).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Croudy|last2=Bartlett |first1=Brian|first2=Kit |date=1998|title=D.C.S. Compton |series=Famous Cricketers |issue=39|url=http://stats.acscricket.com/famous_cricketers/39/index.html|access-date=28 December 2014|publisher=Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians|isbn=0-947774-95-5}}</ref> He was educated at Bell Lane Primary School and joined the MCC ground staff at [[Lord's Cricket Ground]] at the age of 15. The previous summer he had begun to make a name for himself when, at that same venue, he scored 114 as captain of an Elementary Schools XI, impressing Test selector [[Sir Pelham Warner]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Obituary: Denis Compton|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-denis-compton-1268963.html|date=23 April 1997|work=[[The Independent]]|first=Scyld|last=Berry}}</ref>

By the late 1930s, Compton was one of England's finest batsmen, and remained at the top of his profession for some twenty years. His dashing approach to batting and the sheer enjoyment he exuded endeared him to a generation of cricket lovers. As an all-rounder Compton was a right-hand bat and a [[slow left-arm wrist-spin]] [[Bowling (cricket)|bowler]].<ref name=Profile /><ref name=Bio>{{cite book|last=Heald|first=Tim|title=Denis Compton: The Authorized Biography|date=4 May 2015|publisher=Dean Street Press}}</ref>

Compton earned his first England cap against [[New Zealand cricket team in England in 1937|New Zealand]] in 1937. At 19 years and 83 days, he remains the third youngest England debutant ever.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=CricketArchive|title=Youngest Players on debut for England in Test matches|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/England/Test/Players/Youngest_Players_on_Debut.html|access-date=16 September 2016}}</ref> He scored his first [[Test cricket|Test]] century aged just 20 years and 19 days in 1938 against [[Don Bradman]]'s touring [[Australia national cricket team|Australians]].<ref>[[Hector de Lacy|De Lacy, H. A.]], "Compton's Modest Story of his Rise to Fame", ''The Sporting Globe'', (Saturday, 15 October 1949), pp.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article178166184 '''4'''], [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page20757480?zoomLevel=3 '''5'''.]</ref> This broke the record, set by [[J. W. Hearne]] in 1911, for the youngest Test century by an England batsman, and remains the record to this day. Later in the same series he scored a match-saving 76 not out at Lord's; this innings was scored on a rain-affected [[cricket pitch|pitch]] and greatly impressed Don Bradman. In 1939, he scored 2468 runs for the season, including 120 against the [[West Indies]] at Lord's.<ref name=Bio /><ref name=Profile />

As with many other sportsmen of his generation, he lost some of his best years to the [[Second World War]], during which he served in the army in India. He was posted at [[Mhow]], Central India. He was granted permission to play for the Holkar team in the [[Ranji Trophy]], India's national cricket tournament. It was in India that he began his close friendship with his Australian counterpart, Test cricketer, footballer and national hero, [[Keith Miller]]. They played against each other in the match at [[Calcutta]] between the Australian Services team and East Zone.<ref>{{cite web |title=East Zone v Australian Services, Eden Gardens, Calcutta on 21st, 22nd, 23rd November 1945 |url=https://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/17/17510.html |website=CricketArchive |access-date=13 June 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The match was interrupted by rioting when Compton was on 94, and one of the rioters who had invaded the pitch ran up to Compton and said: "Mr Compton, you very good player, but the match must stop now." This was a phrase which Miller gleefully recalled whenever Compton went out to bat against the Australians.<ref name=Brylcreem /> In recognition of their amiable friendship and rivalry, the ECB and Cricket Australia decided in 2005 that the player adjudged the Player of the Series in [[the Ashes]] would be awarded the [[Compton–Miller medal]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New award for Ashes player of the series |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/new-award-for-ashes-player-of-the-series-213855 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=13 June 2024 |date=20 July 2005}}</ref>

===1947===
{{See also|1947 English cricket season}}
England toured Australia in the [[1946–47 Ashes series]] and though they were beaten by the powerful Australian team, Compton distinguished himself by scoring a century in each innings of the [[Adelaide]] Test.

Back in England, Compton produced a season of cricket that established him as a British household name, and one of the greatest cricketers of his era. Helped by a rare summer of sunshine,<ref name="easterbrook">{{cite web|last=Easterbrook|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|first=Basil|title=Compton's record season|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152461.html|access-date=10 March 2013|year=1997}}</ref> Compton thrilled the war-weary English public with his cavalier batting. Against the [[South African cricket team in England in 1947|touring South Africans]], Compton scored five centuries, one for Middlesex and four for England, accumulating 1,056 runs at an average of 88. His aggregate in all matches that season was 3,816 runs, which remains the most ever made in a season in first-class matches. In that season, he scored 18 centuries, with the last one scored on 15 September 1947. Eighteen hundreds in a single season is another world record to his name.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/149535.html | title = Denis Compton's feat in 1947 | publisher=ESPNcricinfo | access-date = 15 September 2016}}</ref>

According to journalist [[Frank Keating (journalist)|Frank Keating]], Compton's personal favourite innings of that summer was for Middlesex against [[Kent County Cricket Club|Kent]] at Lord's.<ref name=delightful/> Chasing 397 to win, and needing to score at nearly 100 runs per hour,<ref name="easterbrook"/> Compton led the way with a dashing 168, but Middlesex fell short by 75 runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1947/ENG_LOCAL/CC/MIDDX_KENT_CC_13-15AUG1947.html|title=Middlesex v Kent at Lord's, 13–15 August 1947|access-date=10 March 2013}}</ref>

Cricket writers [[Neville Cardus]] and [[John Arlott]] acclaimed Compton's achievements. Cardus wrote: 
<blockquote>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.<ref name="delightful"/></blockquote>

Arlott, who had written his first cricket book that summer, concluded with a tribute to Compton:<blockquote>To close the eyes is to see again that easy, happy figure at the wicket, pushing an unruly forelock out of the eye and then as it falls down again, playing off the wrong foot a stroke which passes deep-point like a bullet ... never again will the boyish delight in hitting a ball with a piece of wood flower directly into charm and gaiety and all the wealth of achievement.<ref name="delightful"/></blockquote>

===Later career===
Against Bradman's ''[[Australian cricket team in England in 1948|Invincibles]]'' in 1948, Compton was England's standout performer in a losing cause. In the First Test at [[Trent Bridge]] he scored 184 in the second innings after Australia had established a first innings lead of 344, and it looked as though he might save the match for England until he lost his balance to a short-pitched ball from Miller and hit his wicket. In the Third Test at [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Old Trafford]], Compton scored an unbeaten 145 in the first innings, when no other batsman made more than 37. He had scored only four runs when, while facing a bumper barrage from [[Ray Lindwall]], he edged the ball onto his forehead. Compton was forced off the ground with a cut head, given two stitches, and ordered to rest despite wanting to return to the crease.<ref>{{cite web|first=Steven|last=Lynch|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|title=Bruised but not shaken|date=2 September 2013|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/667277.html}}</ref>

He eventually came back out when England was teetering at 119 for 5 and enabled the team to reach 363. This was the only match that England did not lose, and if so much time had not been lost to the weather they might have won it. In the series he made 562 runs at 62.44, against fierce fast bowling from Lindwall, Miller and [[Bill Johnston (cricketer)|Bill Johnston]].{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
[[File:Denis Compton 1954.jpg|thumb|Compton at [[the Ashes]] Test Series on 29 October 1954]]
On the [[MCC tour of South Africa 1948–49]] he scored 300 against North-Eastern Transvaal in just a minute over three hours – still the fastest triple-century ever in first-class cricket. His first hundred took 66 minutes (he said, "I was getting a sight of the bowling"), his second 78 minutes (he was not out overnight and had to play himself in again next morning), and his third hundred took just 37 minutes. Reminiscing about the match later, Compton compared the South Africans' bowling with a decent county side, but criticised their catching (he had been dropped before he reached 20).<ref name="300-remembered">[http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/74838.html Compton's 300 remembered]. Content-usa.cricinfo.com (3 December 1998). Retrieved 24 August 2015.</ref>

He toured Australia for [[1950–51 Ashes series]] as vice-captain, the first professional in the 20th century to be awarded the position, but had a dismal tour because of a recurring knee problem caused by an old football injury. He averaged only 7.57 in the Tests, but 92.11 in his other first-class matches. He became the first professional to captain the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] (MCC) for an entire game, [[Jack Hobbs]] having taken over from the injured [[Arthur Carr (cricketer)|Arthur Carr]] in 1924–1925. He and [[Len Hutton]] made the winning runs in the Fifth Test at [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|Melbourne]], the first time Australia had been beaten since 1938.<ref>{{cite book |title=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack |date=1952 |chapter-url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152955.html |via=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=13 June 2024 |chapter=M. C. C. team in Australia and New Zealand, 1950-51}}</ref>

Compton also jointly captained [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] between 1951 and 1952, with [[Bill Edrich]]. Also in 1952, Compton scored his 100th first-class century against Northampton while featuring for Middlesex at Lord's.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07HN9yHOTrU|title=Denis Compton Does It (1952)|publisher=British Pathe|via=YouTube}}</ref>

On the [[English cricket team in Australia in 1954–55|1954–55 tour]] his departure was delayed for a remedial operation on his knee and he joined the team in Australia by aeroplane. In the First Test at [[Brisbane]] he badly cut his hand when he hit a billboard while fielding and batted at the bottom of the order. He missed the Second Test. He came third in the England Test averages (38.20), but topped the tour averages (57.07) and made three centuries. In his last Test against Australia in 1956 he top-scored with 94 despite having had his right kneecap removed the previous November.<ref>{{cite book |first=Norman |last=Preston |title=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack |date=1957 |chapter-url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152630.html |via=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=13 June 2024 |chapter=England v Australia 1956, Fifth Test Match}}</ref>

In [[Pakistani cricket team in England in 1954|home test series against Pakistan]] he set the record for scoring the most runs in between lunch and tea in a Test match (173).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/452793.html|title=Hundred runs or more between lunch and tea|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

Compton finished his cricket career after playing 78 Test matches with 17 centuries at an average of 50.06. In all [[first-class cricket]] he scored 123 centuries.<ref name="cricpro"/>

==Football career==
{{infobox football biography
| name = Denis Compton
| image = 
| fullname = 
| birth_date = 
| death_date = 
| height = 
| currentclub = 
| clubnumber = 11<ref name=Getty />
| position = Winger
| youthyears1 = 1933–1935
| youthclubs1 = [[Nunhead F.C.|Nunhead]]
| years1 = 1936–1950
| clubs1 = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| caps1 = 54
| goals1 = 15
| nationalyears1 = 
| nationalteam1 = 
| nationalcaps1 = 
| nationalgoals1 = 
| club-update = 
| ntupdate = 
}}

Compton also played football, beginning his career at non-league [[Nunhead F.C.|Nunhead]] in the 1933–34 season before joining [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/737770 |title=Off-side – a cricketing XI that made strides in football |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=21 June 2018}}</ref> While playing as a [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]], he made his debut in 1936, taking up the number 11 jersey at the club. Arsenal won the league championship (old First Division) in 1937–38, but Denis Compton did not get a medal since he had made only 7 appearances that season.<ref name=Arsenal /><ref>{{cite web |  url=http://www.11v11.com/teams/arsenal/tab/players/season/1938/comp/200 | title=1937–38 competition statistics | publisher=11v11.com|access-date=28 November 2013}}</ref> Compton was eventually successful with Arsenal at [[Arsenal Stadium|Highbury]], winning the [[Football League Division One|League title]] in [[1947-48 in English football|1948]] and the [[FA Cup]] in [[1949-50 FA Cup|1950]].<ref name=Vavel>{{cite web|url=https://www.vavel.com/en/football/premier-league/arsenal/458897-two-one-club-brothers-leslie-and-denis-compton.html|title=Two one-club brothers: Arsenal's Leslie and Denis Compton|website=Vavel.com|date=5 March 2015|author=Dawson, Matt}}</ref><ref name=Getty>{{cite web|url=http://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/video/denis-compton-pulls-on-arsenal-number-11-shirt-in-news-footage/1B27618_0001|title=Denis Compton pulls on Arsenal number 11 shirt|website=Getty Images.com|date=31 October 2013 }}</ref>

However, the latter part of his sporting career was dogged by injury after his right knee was damaged in a collision with the goalkeeper of [[Charlton Athletic]].<ref name=Vavel /> He was thus limited to 60 official, i.e. non-wartime appearances, scoring 16 goals altogether. He represented [[England national football team|England]] in wartime games on twelve occasions, but never in a full official match.<ref name=Bio /> He also appeared in the [[Rovers Cup]] in India with a visiting British team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thesportslite.com/football/rovers-cup-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-tournament/|title=Rovers Cup — the second oldest Football tournament in India|date=18 January 2022|access-date=14 October 2022|first=Sarwadnya|last=Nirwane|location=Mumbai|website=thesportslite.com|publisher=The Sports Lite|archive-date=14 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014043956/https://thesportslite.com/football/rovers-cup-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-tournament/}}</ref>

==Personality and legacy==
Compton's absent-mindedness was legendary. [[Colin Cowdrey]] writes that Compton turned up for the [[Old Trafford (cricket)|Old Trafford]] Test of [[South African cricket team in England in 1955#Third Test at Old Trafford.2C 7.E2.80.9312 July|1955 against South Africa]] without his kitbag. Undaunted, he sauntered into the museum and, borrowing an antique bat off the display, went on to score 158 and 71. Nevertheless, England lost by three wickets. This absent-mindedness was particularly obvious in his tendency to run out his partners at the crease: [[Trevor Bailey]] declared that "a call for a run from Compton should be treated as no more than a basis for negotiation". In typical form, at his brother Leslie's benefit match in 1955, he managed to run Leslie out before he had faced a single ball.

[[File:Denis Compton Graph.png|thumb|upright=1.1|Compton's career performance graph]]

[[Peter Parfitt]], the Middlesex and England batsman, was a speaker at a major celebration in London for Compton's 70th birthday. He claims that the chief guest was called to the telephone by a lady who had heard about the dinner. Eventually, he agreed to take the call. "Denis," she said, "it's me, your mother. You're not 70, you're only 69."<ref name=Brylcreem />

After retiring from sport, Denis Compton became a journalist and later a [[Sports commentator|commentator]] for [[BBC Television]]. He was made a CBE in 1958. He became the first former professional cricketer to be elected President of Middlesex County Cricket Club in 1991. He served two terms, until a week before his death from [[septicaemia]] in [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]], Berkshire aged 78.<ref name=Profile>{{cite web|url=http://spartacus-educational.com/ARSENALcomptonD.htm|title=Denis Compton|website=Spartacus Educational.com}}</ref><ref name=Bio />

Compton's death, on [[Saint George's Day]], coincided with the opening of the [[1997 County Championship]] season, and pavilion flags across the country were lowered to half-mast in his memory.<ref name="delightful">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153287.html|title=Denis Compton – talisman of hope, 1998... Delightful man|last=Keating|first=Frank|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=10 March 2013|year=1998}}</ref>
The MCC named the twin stands at the Nursery End of [[Lord's Cricket Ground]] in his and [[Bill Edrich]]'s honour. Cricket writer Colin Bateman noted, however, that it was "a dull, practical structure which does little justice to their mercurial talents and indomitable spirits".<ref>{{cite book |title=If The Cap Fits |last=Bateman |first=Colin |year=1993 |publisher=Tony Williams Publications |isbn=1-869833-21-X |pages=[https://archive.org/details/ifcapfits0000unse/page/58 58–59] |url=https://archive.org/details/ifcapfits0000unse/page/58 }}</ref>

Compton was also honoured at the Shenley Cricket Centre, where the main pitch is named the [[Denis Compton Oval]]. That is where his grandson, Nick Compton, set the Middlesex record for the 6th wicket partnership in List A cricket (142* [[Ben Hutton (cricketer)|BL Hutton]] & NRD Compton v Lancashire at Shenley 2002).

==Commercial sponsorships==
With his contemporary the footballer [[Stanley Matthews]], Compton was the first British sportsman to make a substantial living by exploiting his sporting reputation to provide advertisements and endorsements. For many years he was the public face of the [[Brylcreem]] range of men's haircare products.

An example of this is illustrated upon page VIII of the [[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]] edition of 1955. Denis Compton developed a close working relationship with Royds Advertising, and its chairman, who at that time was Nicholas Royds.<ref name=Brylcreem>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12448435.Denis_Compton__apos_The_Brylcreem_boy_apos__hits_his_peak/|title=Denis Compton 'The Brylcreem boy' hits his peak|work=The Sunday Herald|place=Scotland|date=22 October 2007}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Denis and Leslie Compton 1947-09-19.jpg|thumb|Denis and Leslie in 1947]]

Compton's elder brother [[Leslie Compton|Leslie]] also played cricket for Middlesex and football as a defender for Arsenal and England.<ref name=Arsenal*>{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/profiles/143/leslie-compton|title=Leslie Compton|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019113319/http://www.arsenal.com/history/profiles/143/leslie-compton|archive-date=19 October 2016}}</ref>

Compton was married three times. His first wife was Doris Rich, a dancer. They married at St John's Wood on 1 March 1941 and had a son, Brian (born 2 January 1942).<ref name="obit">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/5173457/Denis-Compton.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111143023/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/5173457/Denis-Compton.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 November 2012|title=Obituary: Denis Compton|date=24 April 1997|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref>

With his second wife, Valerie Platt, Compton had two sons, [[Patrick Compton|Patrick]] and [[Richard Compton (cricketer)|Richard]], both of whom were born in England but brought up by their mother in South Africa after 1960. Both of them went on to play cricket for [[Natal cricket team|Natal]].<ref name="obit"/>

In 1975, Compton married his third wife, Christine Franklin Tobias, with whom he had two daughters, Charlotte and Victoria.<ref name="obit"/> His grandson [[Nick Compton|Nick]], son of Richard, made his Test debut against [[India national cricket team|India]] at [[Ahmedabad]] during the England cricket team's 2012–13 tour of India.<ref name="cricinfo">{{cite web|title=Nick Compton|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-england-2012/content/current/player/11718.html|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

==Test centuries==
The following table summarises the Test [[Century (cricket)|centuries]] scored by Denis Compton.<ref name=Howstat>{{cite web|url=http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerNotables.asp?PlayerID=0347&s=2|title=Denis Compton's Test Centuries|website=Howstat.com}}</ref>

*In the column '''Runs''', [[not out|*]] indicates being '''not out'''.
*The column title '''Match''' refers to the '''Match Number''' of his career.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan=8|Denis Compton's Test Centuries<ref>[http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/10777.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=start;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;template=results;type=batting;view=innings: Denis Compton], ESPNcricinfo, 16 March 2010.</ref>
|-
! | # !! |Runs !! |Match !! |Against !! |City/Country  !! |Venue !! |Year !!|Result
|-
| '''[1]''' || 102 || 2 || {{cr|AUS}} || [[Nottingham]], England || [[Trent Bridge]] || 1938 || Drawn
|-
| '''[2]''' || 120 || 6 || {{cr|WIN}} || London, England || [[Lord's]] || 1939 || Won
|-
| '''[3]''' || 147 || rowspan="2"|15 || rowspan="2"|{{cr|AUS}} || rowspan="2"|[[Adelaide]], Australia || rowspan="2"|[[Adelaide Oval]] || rowspan="2"|1947 || rowspan="2"|Drawn
|-
| '''[4]''' || 103*
|-
| '''[5]''' || 163 || 18 || {{cr|ZAF|1928}} || [[Nottingham]], England || [[Trent Bridge]] || 1947 || Drawn
|-
| '''[6]''' || 208 || 19 || {{cr|ZAF|1928}} || London, England || [[Lord's]] || 1947 || Won
|-
| '''[7]''' || 115 || 20 || {{cr|ZAF|1928}} || [[Manchester]], England || [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Old Trafford]] || 1947 || Won
|-
| '''[8]''' || 113 || 22 ||  {{cr|ZAF|1928}} || London, England || [[Kennington Oval]] || 1947 || Drawn
|-
| '''[9]''' || 184 || 23 ||  {{cr|AUS}} || [[Nottingham]], England || [[Trent Bridge]] || 1948 || Lost
|-
| '''[10]''' || 145* || 25 ||  {{cr|AUS}} || [[Manchester]], England || [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Old Trafford]] || 1948 || Drawn
|-
| '''[11]''' || 114 || 29 || {{cr|ZAF|1928}} || [[Johannesburg]], South Africa || [[Ellis Park Stadium|Ellis Park]] || 1948 || Drawn
|-
| '''[12]''' || 114 || 33 || {{cr|NZ}} || [[Leeds]], England || [[Headingley Cricket Ground|Headingley]] || 1949 || Drawn
|-
| '''[13]''' || 116 || 34 || {{cr|NZ}} || London, England || [[Lord's]] || 1949 || Drawn
|-
| '''[14]''' || 112 || 44 || {{cr|ZAF|1928}} || [[Nottingham]], England || [[Trent Bridge]] || 1951 || Lost
|-
| '''[15]''' || 133 || 58 || {{cr|WIN}} || [[Port of Spain]], [[Trinidad]] || [[Queen's Park Oval]] || 1954 || Drawn
|-
| '''[16]''' || 278 || 61 || {{cr|PAK}} || [[Nottingham]], England || [[Trent Bridge]] || 1954 || Won
|-
| '''[17]''' || 158 || 70 || {{cr|ZAF|1928}} || [[Manchester]], England || [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Old Trafford]] || 1955 || Lost
|}<ref name=Howstat />

==Honours==
;Arsenal<ref name=Arsenal />
*[[Football League First Division|First Division]]: [[1947-48 in English football|1948]]
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1949-50 FA Cup|1950]]

==In popular culture==
The sitcom [[Man About the House|''Man About the House'']] referenced Compton in the episode "I Won't Dance, Don't Ask Me..." (first broadcast in October 1974), when Chrissy suggests to Robin that he could have a haircut before the dance they are going to: "Well you only have to have a little trim. You can grease the rest down with hair cream." Robin responds, "Chrissy, I'm going as me, not Denis Compton".<ref>{{Cite episode |title=I Won't Dance, Don't Ask Me... |series=Man About the House |series-link=Man About the House |network=ITV |date=23 October 1974 |series-no=3 |number=3 |minutes=10}}</ref>

Compton is mentioned in the ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' episode "The Builders". When questioning the maid, Polly, about who is at fault for some bungled hotel renovations, Basil sarcastically asks her, "... whose fault is it then you cloth-eared bint? Denis Compton's?"<ref>{{cite book|title=Fawlty Towers: A Worshippers Companion|publisher=Leo Publishing|date=February 2004|author=Holm, Lars Holger }}</ref>

In an episode of ''[[Ever Decreasing Circles]]'' titled "The Cricket Match", Martin explains to his neighbour Paul that Compton never undermined his county captain [[George Mann (cricketer)|George Mann]] despite being the better player.

In [[Tim Rice]]'s [[Academy Awards]] acceptance speech for the song "[[Can You Feel the Love Tonight]]", he thanked Compton as "... a childhood hero of mine."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/espn/sport/story/129998.html|title=Compton confounds Hollywood|publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]]| author=Lynch, Steven |date=9 January 2012}}</ref>

In the ''[[As Time Goes By (UK TV series)|As Time Goes By]]'' episode "Living Together, But Where?", Lionel wonders whether he should keep his copy of a book written by Compton.

Denis Compton appears as a mystery guest in the BBC version of ''[[What's My Line? (British game show)|What's My Line?]]'', hosted by [[Eamonn Andrews]] and aired on 5 October 1957.

Compton and [[Colin Cowdrey]] met [[Buddy Holly]] and [[The Crickets]] at the former Whisky a GoGo, at 33–37, [[Wardour Street]], [[Soho]], London, in April 1958, during the rock 'n' roll group's British tour, and explained the game of cricket to them.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Denis Compton}}
*{{ESPNcricinfo|id=10777}}
*[http://www.icc-cricket.com/hall-of-fame/hall-of-famers/20/denis-compton Hall of Fame Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227044613/http://www.icc-cricket.com/hall-of-fame/hall-of-famers/20/denis-compton |date=27 December 2014 }} at ICC Website
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160305080723/http://www.arsenal.com/history/profiles/142/denis-compton Profile] at Arsenal.com

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|
|before=[[Walter Robins]]
|title=[[:Category:Middlesex cricket captains|Middlesex County Cricket Captain]]
|years=1951–1952<br />''(jointly with [[Bill Edrich]])''
|after=[[Bill Edrich]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{ICC Cricket Hall of Fame}}
{{Batsmen who have scored 100 first-class centuries}}
{{Batsmen with a Test batting average above 50}}
{{Australian first-class cricket season leading run-scorers (1900–01 to 1949–50)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Compton, Denis}}
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