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England team director Andy Flower has given his support to Nick Compton, who is set to open the batting in the first Test against New Zealand in Dunedin.
Compton showed up well during the recent series win in India, putting on some valuable partnerships with captain Alastair Cook to help the tourists to a 2-1 triumph.
However, with Joe Root improving all the time, Compton's place could come under threat if he fails to deliver against the Black Caps.
"I thought Nick played really well in India," Flower said. "He had some tricky situations to deal with there - some extreme sub-continent conditions and obviously the pressure of playing in India for the first time.
"I thought he did extremely well out there, without getting the huge score. He put on some really valuable partnerships with Alastair Cook."
Compton is6.50to be England's top 1st innings batsman in the first Test, with England1.53to have the highest 1st innings opening partnership and1.57to win the game.
Flower also refused to be too concerned that Compton failed to fire in the warm-up defeat by a New Zealand XI, adding: "He missed out in this game, having spent a bit of time there in the first innings when the ball was darting around.
"He's a good player."
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