England batsman Nick Compton has been named as one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year for 2012.

The 29-year-old amassed 1,494 runs for Somserset last season, which in turn saw him earn a call-up to the England squad for the recent Test tours of India and New Zealand.

"It's a lesson to everyone. People sometimes accuse the England team of being a closed shop and it's impossible to get in. But Compton has shown what is possible if you knuckle down," Wisden editor Lawrence Booth told BBC Bristol.

"If the willingness and the consciousness remains he could be around for another five or six years."

Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis and Marlon Samuels were the other players to claim the award.

Written by
Liam Apicella