England beware: Green posts important pre-Ashes knock

He fell in the nervous 90s, but Cameron Green has still given his Ashes hopes an almighty boost with a determined knock during Western Australia's Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland at the WACA Ground.

In reply to Queensland's 390, WA started day three at a somewhat shaky 5-210 but with Green unbeaten on 49 and holding the key.

Green drove spinner Mitch Swepson for four on the first ball on Thursday to bring up his half-century and looked set for a ton before being trapped LBW on 94 by Michael Neser just after lunch.

WA declared at 7-322 immediately following Green's dismissal, with Aaron Hardie (55no off 101 balls) the other notable scorer of the day.

Green's 172-ball innings featured eight fours and one six, but more importantly plenty of patience when the occasion called for it.

The impressive knock came after Green had returned the economical figures of 1-13 from eight overs in his most significant bowling stint since undergoing radical spinal surgery a year ago.

Australian selectors are yet to reveal whether they will unleash both Green and fellow allrounder Beau Webster in the first Ashes Test in Perth, starting on November 21.

But if they only opt for just one allrounder, Green's performances with both bat and ball are certain to see him earn the nod.

While Webster produced impressive figures of 5-50 and 3-73 in Tasmania's three-wicket Shield loss to South Australia, the 31-year-old only returned scores of 13, 8, 11 and 6 in his four Shield knocks this summer.

WA's start to the day wasn't great with Green's attempt to come back for a second run resulting in Corey Rocchiccioli's run out on the third over of the morning.

The runs for Green dried up when Queensland took the new ball a short time later, with the 26-year-old forced to work hard against the swinging ball.

Green was on 63 when he survived a confident LBW appeal from Neser, and he was on 74 when Gurinder Sandhu's own LBW shout fell on deaf ears.

Queensland's pace attack tried their best to put the squeeze on Green, but the West Australian powerhouse managed to survive the tough period to push closer to his century.

Hardie also provided handy runs as WA crept closer to Queensland's first-innings total.

Green was finally undone when Neser's delivery cut back and struck him flush on the pads.