HAVING used New Road as the launchpad for his international redemption last summer, Phil Hughes once again made a point to the Australian selectors at Worcestershire’s home ground.

Clear blue skies and the iconic cathedral provided a fitting backdrop for Hughes to make hay while the sun shone with an entertaining innings of 86 from 84 balls to underline his Test credentials ahead of Wednesday’s Ashes opener at Trent Bridge.

The left-hander, who remains a popular figure at New Road and even joined his former team-mates as a spectator for their Friends Life t20 trip to Bristol last weekend, was in the international wilderness after a run of poor form prior to joining the County as their overseas player for 2012.

However, a stellar campaign in Worcester colours saw the 24-year-old average over 100 with 402 runs in eight FL t20 matches, as well as 498 at 83 in the CB40 and 560 Championship runs to force his way back into the Baggy Green reckoning.

Aussie skipper Michael Clarke also showcased his undoubted batting talent, putting on 132 in a boundary-laden partnership with Hughes, who was eventually bowled by Chris Russell.

Clarke then really opened his shoulders, hitting the lion’s share of a 115-run stand in 12 overs with Steve Smith (43), before finally departing for a superb 124 shortly before declaring with Australia on 344-5, a lead of 456.

Nick Compton and Matt Pardoe took the opening stand past 50, but the Somerset batsman was lured out of his ground by slow left-armer Ashton Agar and stumped by Brad Haddin for 26.

Pardoe and Moeen Ali will resume this morning with Worcestershire a mere 393 runs away from a famous victory.

At the beginning of the day, Worcestershire added just two to their overnight 246-7, before the first wicket fell, but Gareth Andrew looked distraught to be given out caught down the leg-side, with the ball clearly having come off his pad.

Charlie Morris (25 not out) and Jack Shantry played a couple of nice strokes, before the latter was cleaned up by Ryan Harris for 13. The innings was closed at 284 when Russell was bowled by James Faulkner for four.

Ed Cowan replaced Shane Watson as Chris Rogers’ opening partner this time around, but Moeen soon made the breakthrough, squaring Rogers up and turning the ball sharply to trap the Middlesex man lbw for 26.

Cowan made 34 before he was given out lbw to Shantry, but he hardly took his eyes off the bottom of his bat as he trudged back to the pavilion in a non-too-subtle gesture to umpire Peter Hartley that he’d hit it.

Cowan’s departure brought Hughes to the crease and the bumper crowd were more than happy to sit back and watch him once again dominate the bowlers at New Road.