ENGLAND discard Nick Compton made a point to the national selectors with a patient 79 as Worcestershire made their way to 246-7 in reply to the Australians’ 396-4 declared.

Home skipper Daryl Mitchell was much more fluent in his 65, but the hosts’ middle-order struggled to cope with Aussie paceman Jackson Bird.

Compton, who is guesting for Worcester in this game in a bid to push his Ashes claims, and Mitchell’s 92-run partnership led the New Road side to 180-2.

However, 26-year-old Tasmania right-armer Bird suddenly took off in a spell of 4-4 in 19 balls as the County collapsed to 187-6.

A circumspect Compton took 181 balls over his 79, while Mitchell wasted little time in reaching a run-a-ball half-century, at one stage smashing six boundaries in nine James Faulkner deliveries as the home side picked up the pace.

Despite a lengthy stay in the middle, the Somerset batsman departed in tame fashion, pulling a long-hop from Bird straight to Shane Watson at mid-wicket.

Alexei Kervezee dispatched Bird to the long-on fence with an elegant drive, but the bowler had his revenge three balls later, trapping the out-of-form batsman lbw.

Rookie batsman Tom Fell followed in Bird’s next over, getting a routine outside edge to Watson at first slip as he pushed forward tentatively.

Mitchell’s enterprising knock came to an end with the score on 187 when he glanced a ball off his hip, only to be superbly caught by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin diving full length to his left. Ben Cox stopped the rot and played an entertaining role in a partnership of 38, hitting five fours in his 25, before being well taken at slip by Michael Clarke off Ashton Agar.

Gareth Andrew opened his shoulders late in the day and, after Haddin bungled a big stumping chance, finished the day unbeaten on 24 with Jack Shantry six not out. The morning began with former Worcestershire overseas player Steve Smith in no mood for hanging around as Australia motored to a declaration score.

The leg break-bowling all-rounder monopolised the scoring, blasting 47 of the 56 runs the tourists added to their overnight 340-4, before declaring on 396-4 at the drinks break.

Compton and Matt Pardoe took Worcestershire to lunch on 36-0, before the former played a cut shot at a wide one from James Faulkner and found the safe hands of Phil Hughes at fourth slip for a 51-ball 16.

Moeen Ali (10) was caught low down by Clarke off Agar, but he didn’t feel the ball had carried and was only given out following a mid-pitch discussion between the umpires.