Clayton impresses as Queensland grind on green WACA surface

Jack Clayton strengthened his blossoming credentials with a classy 82 against Western Australia on a green-tinged WACA pitch as Queensland recovered from early peril on a see-sawing day one.

After being in trouble at 51 for 3, Queensland finished at 258 for 6 on a rain-interrupted day's play in a resolute start to their Sheffield Shield campaign.

No.4 Clayton was the lynchpin and enjoyed strong partnerships with Lachlan Hearne and Jimmy Peirson to frustrate a WA attack that could not sustain consistency in favourable conditions.

Clayton, 27, is on the Australian selectors' radar having averaged 36.82 from 40 First-Class matches. His reputation for having a solid technique was enhanced after thwarting WA's strong attack in seam-friendly conditions.

To seriously get the attention of the selectors, Clayton needs to be more commanding at the crease and lift a strike-rate that had sat at 43.42 across his career.

Clayton's intent was notable in his 161-ball knock and he did start particularly fluently with several sublime straight drives. He was Queensland's standout after former Australia under-19s World Cup winning captain Hugh Weibgen showed off his prodigious talents at the start of the innings.

Opening the batting for the first time in his fledgling First-Class career, the 21-year-old Weibgen unfurled aggressive strokes and bludgeoned 35 off 40 balls to blunt the new ball.

Quick Jhye Richardson and offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli toiled hard for WA, backing up impressively having only just returned from Australia A's tour of India. Kieran Elliott had a memorable start in his WA debut after claiming wickets in each of his first two overs having crossed over from Tasmania in the off-season.

After consecutive wooden spoon finishes following a three-peat of Shield titles, WA made a shaky start to a new era with coach Beau Casson and skipper Aaron Hardie taking the leadership reins.

WA made a surprise selection with aggressive left-handed batter Tom Murray making his first-class debut after Jayden Goodwin withdrew with illness. Former two-time winning Shield captain Sam Whiteman, who stood down as skipper after last season, was not named in the squad amid a transitioning WA side.

Hardie, playing as a specialist batter due to a knee injury, made the predictable decision to bowl first amid overcast conditions.

Richardson and left-arm seamer Joel Paris had to initially withstand an onslaught from Weibgen, who targeted the straight boundary with great effect and stormed to 19 off 16 balls.

But opening partner Angus Lovell could not get going and nicked off to a back of a length delivery in a trademark dismissal from Paris, who entered with 207 First-Class wickets at a remarkable average of 19.75.

Having been a shining light in WA's wretched start to the One-Day Cup, a pumped-up Elliott made an immediate impact by knocking over Hugo Burdon before nicking off Weibgen.

Clayton came to Queensland's rescue and had good support from Hearne as they looked untroubled through to lunch. Richardson and Rocchiccioli bowled well in tandem after the interval to put the breaks on Queensland, who had freewheeled in the first session.

A frustrated Hearne lost patience on 33 and gifted his wicket to Rocchiccioli after skipping down the wicket and hitting straight to cover. But Clayton and Peirson combined for a 97-run partnership to put Queensland in a strong position by tea.

Clayton had played almost flawlessly and looked set for a seventh First-Class century before edging Rocchiccioli to slip, throwing his head back in disappointment.

Hayden Kerr played in cavalier fashion and smashed Rocchiccioli for a huge six that almost ended up in the new swimming pool that is a feature of the renovated WACA ground.

But Kerr fell lbw to towering seamer Albert Esterhuysen just before rain cascaded down, leaving the smattering of fans scurrying for shelter.

The famous Lillee Marsh Stand was closed off to spectators as it undergoes renovation with new NRL side Perth Bears to use the WACA as an administration and high-performance space.