Compton opened for England in nine consecutive Tests and hit back-to-back centuries on the tour of New Zealand. <img alt="Nick Compton and (inset) Michael Clarke" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/jul/Nick-Compton.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 361px;" /> Nick Compton celebrates his half century during warm-up match vs Australia recently (inset) Michael Clarke. PIC/Getty Images But he was axed after struggling for fluency in the return series against the Black Caps and will not be on duty at Trent Bridge in the morning, with Joe Root promoted as Alastair Cook&rsquo;s new partner. Australia skipper Clarke saw plenty of Compton as he played both tour matches, once for Somerset and then on a one-off guest appearance for Worcestershire, and saw him compile two gritty half-centuries. &ldquo;We haven&rsquo;t bowled to Joe yet but we didn&rsquo;t manage to get Nick out that easily, so I&rsquo;m happy he&rsquo;s not playing to be honest,&rdquo; he said. u00a0&ldquo;Nick has showed in the last couple of four day matches he has a very good defence and I&rsquo;m surprised he&rsquo;s not in the team for the first Test.&rdquo;u00a0

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Australia captain Michael Clarke has expressed surprise at England's decision to ditch Nick Compton for today's Ashes curtain-raiser.

Australia skipper Clarke shocked by Nick Compton omission

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Australia skipper Clarke shocked by Nick Compton omission

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