Dumped England opener Nick Compton is making life difficult for Australia’s bowlers on day two of the tour match against Worcestershire on Wednesday.
Compton made 81 last week for Somerset, and in his guest appearance for Worcestershire he’s 71 not out at tea.
The home side are 2-156 after Australia earlier declared their first innings at 4-396.
Worcestershire trail by 240 runs and Australian Ashes hopefuls Ryan Harris and Jackson Bird have their work cut out on a pretty lifeless wicket at New Road.
The pair can probably push Peter Siddle for the third spot in the attack for the first Test with big performances in the final tune-up match.
Bird (0-26) was desperately unlucky to have an lbw appeal turned down on Compton and has looked threatening at times.
Harris (0-23) has kept things tight but struggled to penetrate.
James Faulkner (1-37) made the first breakthrough for Australia, but has hardly done enough to demand selection as a fifth bowler for Trent Bridge next week.
Young West Australian spinner Ashton Agar (1-48) also has a wicket but it’s highly unlikely he’d get a start this series ahead of Nathan Lyon.
Earlier batsman Steve Smith sent a timely reminder to selectors ahead of the first Test.
Smith raced to 68 not out before Australia’s declaration came in the 98th over.
NSW middle-order batsman Smith could well be in a two-way battle with David Warner for the No.6 batting position for Trent Bridge.
But while Warner has been restricted to net sessions due to his suspension, Smith has scored two hundreds on the Australia A tour and has been touted by national selector John Inverarity as a future leader.
Smith was 21no from 42 balls at stumps on day one.
But he exploded out of the blocks on Wednesday morning, scoring at nearly a run-a-ball, to ensure Australia advanced rapidly from their overnight score of 4-340.
Smith brought up his 50 with one of two towering sixes, and also smashed 10 boundaries.
Phil Hughes was the other unbeaten batsman on 19, but didn’t see much of the strike on Wednesday, adding just nine runs to his overnight score.
