Somerset win race for Compton

Straight outta Compton: Nick Compton scored 694 runs in one-day cricket for Middlesex and should thrive at Taunton

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Somerset have announced the signing of Middlesex batsman Nick Compton on a three-year contract.

Compton left Lord's today after invoking a verbal agreement with Middlesex managing director of cricket Angus Fraser that he could move on at the end of the 2009 season if he felt "he needed a fresh start”.

The grandson of former England and Middlesex batsman Denis Compton, the 26-year-old was his county's top run-scorer this season, with over 1,600 runs in first-class and one-day cricket, including five centuries.

Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose said: "Nick is a player we view as having the ability to bat in our top three and be with us for many years. With Justin Langer leaving, we needed to strengthen our batting options.

"In 2006 Nick had an excellent season scoring six hundreds in Division One of the County Championship and went on the England A tour so we think he can be a great asset to our batting line-up.

"This summer he had a very strong season, particularly in one-day cricket, and he was also solid in the championship. He will join our crop of talented young players such as Jos Buttler and Chris Jones.

"He has mainly opened in his career, but he could bat at three or Arul Suppiah could drop down. That is an issue for our new captain Marcus Trescothick, who rates Nick highly."

Trescothick, who assumes the captaincy from Langer following the Sabres' recent Champions League Twenty20 campaign, said: "I am delighted with the signing of Nick Compton, who is a good player in four-day and one-day cricket.

"After a hugely promising start to his career, he encountered the problems a lot of batsmen, including myself, have gone through as bowlers start to work you out.

"But he seems to have come through that period now and I believe he will be a big asset."

Born in South Africa but English-qualified, Compton made his one-day debut for Middlesex in 2001 and his first-class debut for the county three years later, earning his cap in 2006.

He said: "I am very excited about joining Somerset, a county I have always had great respect for.

"It was that vision that made my decision an easy one. I look forward to being part of the reason we achieve our goals at Somerset next year and beyond."