Ian Bell stated his case for selection in next week's crucial fifth Ashes Test at the Oval with a determined 126 to secure Warwickshire a draw with title-chasing Nottinghamshire in the LV County Championship.

With England's selectors and captain Andrew Strauss watching on at Trent Bridge as part of their selection meeting before Sunday's squad announcement, the 27-year-old duly added the eight runs needed for his third century of the season before he was eventually lbw to Andre Adams.

Rikki Clarke added a quickfire 62 in the afternoon session before the visitors declared on 470 for seven, setting Nottinghamshire a nominal target of 302 from 42 overs to win.

Once opener Scott Newman was lbw for a duck in the third over, both sides settled for a draw and stumps were drawn with the hosts 71 for one, with Matt Wood unbeaten on 39 not out.

A third-wicket partnership of 188 between Bell and Jonathan Trott on the third day ensured Warwickshire were leading by 129 runs at the start of the final day's action - and Nottinghamshire would have needed early wickets to stand any chance of forcing victory.

Instead nightwatchman Naqaash Tahir held out for almost an hour before he chased an outswinger from Andre Adams to edge low to wicketkeeper Chris Read.

Bell reached his hundred off 220 balls with a driven four past mid-off off Charlie Shreck, his 12th boundary of the innings, but then played around a quicker ball from Adams to be lbw.

At that stage the Bears were 186 ahead and all the signs from new batsmen Jim Troughton and Tim Ambrose were that they were content to bat out the day.

That remained the tactic even when Troughton failed to withdraw his bat in time to Adams on the stroke of lunch, giving Read his second catch of the day.

The out-of-form Ambrose remained on two for a staggering 66 balls with Clarke only a little more positive, as the scoring slowed markedly after the break.

But an apparent signal from the dressing room engineered a complete change in tactics, as both batsmen suddenly opened up with a flurry of shots.

Clarke hit three sixes and seven fours off 71 balls before he was yorked by Shreck making room for another big hit.

The declaration followed soon after with Ambrose 32 not out, but Nottinghamshire never appeared likely to chase down their target.

Newman and Wood both played defensively before Newman was trapped in the crease by Boyd Rankin, and the two teams shook hands at 5pm.