SOMERSET batsman Nick Compton is in confident mood ahead of the new county season as he looks to press his claims for an England recall.

Compton, who scored 1,001 runs at an average over 50 in last season's County Championship, is hoping a strong start to the season will give him an opportunity to add to his nine test caps.

He said: “I've scored heavily for the last three years and I think if you look at my runs and averages they surpass anyone else in the top order in England, so I'd like to think I have as good a chance as anyone else.

“But the past is the past and you're only as good as your last game and all that, so you have to take a deep breath and go 'right, let's jump back into it.'

“I've got to keep my standards up and do the job that I do for Somerset, and that's what I've been focused on and that's what has brought me the success.

“Who knows what the new management or hierarchy are looking for, but if they are looking for someone who has a lot more to give the international game, then hopefully that'll be me.”

The opening batsman has made a promising start to the 2014 season, scoring a century in Somerset's three-day friendly against Worcester at Taunton - and the 30-year-old is aiming to hit the ground running when the new County Championship season begins on April 13.

He said: “Yeah I got a hundred against Worcester and a little bit of time against Middlesex, but was unlucky in that game - but I think for me just trying to get as much time in the middle as I can, to get those old habits back in and the routines of playing one ball as well as I can and getting my mind ready to just spend a long time out there.

“And I think from there you fight through those patches, your game starts to click back into place - for me there's still a little way to go, but it's still quite early days.”

Somerset face Gloucestershire in a two-day friendly, starting today (Thursday), before hosting Leeds/Bradford MCCU on April 7.

They begin their County Championship campaign at home to last season's runners-up, Yorkshire, on April 13.