Nick Compton's rise after the fall

Nick Compton will soon be embarking on his first international assignment, England's tour to India - an opportunity that has come after much hard-graft in the county circuit. Compton talks to Jonathan Liew in the Telegraph about his struggles - both on and off-the-field - that have shaped his rise.

"It hasn't been an easy ride. There have been times when I have thought about throwing the towel in. But if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Neil [Burns] has been very, very supportive in terms of some of those challenges, but also in giving me hope. The world's full of external pressures now, more and more so. The support around you becomes more and more important."

Burns offered more than coaching. He offered perspective. "The emotional side, the mental side and the technical side are all interlinked," Compton says. "You've got to be able to bat for long periods of time, and that's emotional. That's mental.