Ashes 2013: Nick Compton boosts Ashes hopes vs Australia

Nick Compton gave the England selectors a reminder of his talents with 79 for Worcestershire against Australia.

Compton, displaced by Joe Root as Alastair Cook's Ashes opening partner, has now scored fifties in successive matches against the tourists.

He posted 81 against the tourists for Somerset last week and impressed again in a one-off appearance at Worcester.

The hosts reached 246-7 in reply to Australia's 396-4 declared, with seamer Jackson Bird claiming four wickets.

Australia added 56 to their overnight score before declaring with Steve Smith on 68 not out.

Compton and Matt Pardoe made 48 for Worcestershire's first wicket before Pardoe was caught in the slips off all-rounder James Faulkner.

Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar then removed Moeen Ali via a low edge to Australia captain Michael Clarke.

Compton, who was playing for Worcestershire at the request of the England & Wales Cricket Board to maintain his form and confidence for a potential Ashes call-up, brought up his fifty off 94 balls.

His partnership with Daryl Mitchell had reached 92 when he mis-hit a short ball from Bird straight to Shane Watson at midwicket.

Three wickets followed in quick succession as Bird enhanced his Ashes chances by removing Alexei Keverzee, Tom Fell and Mitchell to leave the hosts wobbling on 186-6.

Ben Cox and Gareth Andrew steadied the innings before Cox nicked Agar to Clarke late in the day.

Match scorecard