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Joe Burns has scored 171 on day two of Queensland's Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania, marching his side to a first-innings total of 275.
Joe Burns posted an impressive century in his first Sheffield Shield game since being axed by national selectors, dragging Queensland to a total of 275 in their clash with Tasmania.
Burns was out for 171 late in the final session on day two at Bellerive Oval, where he counter-punched in style after the hosts' post-lunch fightback.
Tasmania negotiated four overs to reach 0-7 and hold a 64-run lead at stumps on Thursday.
Burns was dropped from Australia's XI - and an enlarged national squad - after the Boxing Day Test.
The opener, who was restricted to Big Bash duties throughout the rest of Australia's four-Test series against India, enjoyed a productive return to red-ball cricket in Hobart.
"It's always nice to get a hundred," Burns said.
"My mindset was not only to get a hundred but try and bat with the tail, go on and get a really big score.
"You try and take pressure off yourself, prepare really well so that once you get into a game you are really comfortable, confident and relaxed."
Marnus Labuschagne, captain Usman Khawaja, Matthew Renshaw, Jimmy Peirson, Jack Wildermuth and Mark Steketee departed in a collapse of 6-37.
Burns, who was 97 not out at Thursday's tea break, looked at risk of running out of partners as he hunted a ton.
But Xavier Bartlett, debutant Matt Kuhnemann and Brendan Doggett helped the right-hander celebrate his milestone and shepherd the Bulls from 7-161 to far beyond 200.
Burns was the 10th wicket to fall, going down swinging at Beau Webster's offspin as the versatile bowler finished with a career-best haul of 4-50.
"Burnsy batted excellently. He was pretty much chanceless," Webster said.
"We know he's a class player and if you don't get him early, you're in for a tough grind.
"They got a few partnerships throughout the day, which was expected on a nice batting wicket, but we hung in there well."
Labuschagne copped a nasty bouncer blow to the grille, inflicted by paceman Gabe Bell during the 28th over of the innings.
The 115-run stand between Burns and Labuschagne ended when the latter, ranked third on the Test batting charts, was trapped lbw on 49 by Nathan Ellis.
Burns then watched from the non-striker's end as carnage unfolded, with much of it generated by Webster's medium pace.
Webster, who made his name as a towering offspinner, worked hard last year to add another string to his bow.
The 27-year-old on Thursday reaped the rewards of that off-season toil, steaming in to remove Khawaja, Renshaw and Wildermuth in quick succession.