Cameron Green falls short of century but Test spot likely secured with big Shield knock
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Cameron Green has likely secured his spot in the Australian team for next week's first Test, but he fell agonisingly short of a Sheffield Shield century on Thursday.
After a strong return to the bowling crease, returning figures of 1-13 off eight overs, the gun all-rounder produced a quality performance with bat in hand for WA.
Green reached fifty from the first ball of day three against Queensland and looked like he was going to go on with the job and reach triple-figures before the Ashes begins.
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While a few wickets fell around him, the 26-year-old remained composed at the crease and built a crucial partnership with fellow all-rounder Aaron Hardie.
Green was unbeaten on 91 at the lunch break, but was given out lbw for 94 early in the third session courtesy of veteran seamer Michael Neser.
Cameron Green leaves the field Getty
After his dismissal at 7-322, WA opted to declare 68 runs behind Queensland's first innings total, showing a clear desire to attack the contest.
While it's a cruel moment, the runs are a major boost for Green heading into the series, especially after he got through his bowling workload and troubled the Bulls batters.
The big question mark now surrounds where Green fits into the Aussie team in Perth.
Selectors have kept their cards close to their chest since naming the 15-man squad last week, with plenty of question marks still looming throughout this round of Shield.
Green spent time batting at No.3 earlier this year but with Marnus Labuschagne back in the fold, the expectation is that he will slot back into that position, which would see Green move back down to the middle-order and Beau Webster miss out.
That path, which is seen as the most likely, would give Jake Weatherald his Test debut at the top of the order alongside Usman Khawaja.
The other potential option is Labuschagne opening the batting and Green remaining at first drop, which would allow Webster to retain his position and Weatherald miss out.
