Ashes 2013: Michael Clarke hits ton for Australia at Worcester

Captain Michael Clarke smashed 124 from 98 balls as Australia dominated the penultimate day of their final Ashes warm-up game against Worcestershire.

The hosts added 38 to their overnight score before being bowled out for 284.

Leading by 112, the Aussies lost Chris Rogers (26) and Ed Cowan (34) before Clarke added 132 with Phillip Hughes (86) and 115 with Steven Smith (43).

Clarke declared on 344-5 to set Worcestershire an unlikely 457 to win, and they had reached 64-1 by the close.

England opener Nick Compton, loaned to Worcestershire for this game, was stumped for 26 off left-arm spinner Ashton Agar six overs before stumps were drawn.

The Somerset right-hander was dropped for England's warm-up game at Essex, indicating that he will be left out of their squad for next week's first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge when it is named on Saturday.

He claimed on Wednesday, after scoring 79 in the first innings of this game, that he had not been given "a fair crack of the whip" by England after scoring two Test centuries in New Zealand in March, before he struggled in the return series against the Kiwis.

With Compton gone, his opening partner Matthew Pardoe was unbeaten on 34 at the close, with Moeen Ali on two.

Earlier, Clarke and Australia had taken advantage of a flat pitch and a gentle bowling attack to enjoy their final batting practice before the Test series begins, scoring at quicker than a run a ball.

Shane Watson will open at Trent Bridge but his first-innings century prompted the Aussies to offer their other batsmen some time in the middle and after openers Rogers and Cowan were both trapped lbw, Clarke and Hughes took control.

Clarke was dropped by Alexei Kervezee on 32 but the third-wicket pair blazed away, adding 132 in 113 balls as Hughes - who knows New Road well from spells as Worcestershire's overseas player - hit his former team-mates for seven fours and a six in an 11-ball spell, including four boundaries from one Gareth Andrew over.

Even with seven men on the boundary, the runs continued to flow until Hughes was bowled by Chris Russell trying to paddle the ball over his shoulder.

Clarke eventually perished when he was caught at third man, and Smith holed out just before the declaration.

Match scorecard