Joe Burns won't give up hope of a Test recall this summer, despite being left behind for Australia's two-match series against Pakistan in the UAE..
Burns last played in the fourth Test against South Africa in March after being drafted into the side following the ball-tampering scandal that led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft's suspensions.
Despite leading the Sheffield Shield batting averages last summer he was not picked in Australia's 15-man squad for the two-Test series against Pakistan which starts Sunday.
The 29-year-old - who has averaged 37.76 in 14 Tests - was one of a number of notable omissions for the series, alongside Peter Handscomb and Glenn Maxwell also not selected.
"I had a good chat with JL (Australian coach Justin Langer,)" Burns said.
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"He called me the day after the team announcement. I really appreciate the call from Justin and it was really positive going forward. Just got to get your head down, work hard and make runs.
"It's a very hard team to make the Australian cricket team so all you can do is make runs and if opportunities arise take them from there."
Burns notched up his first half-century of the domestic summer on Wednesday, as he posted 80 in Queensland's 24-run rain-affected one-day elimination final win over South Australia.
He will have five rounds of Sheffield Shield with Queensland before the first Test of the home summer against India, a competition he averaged 55.76 in last season - the highest of all players who played four or more matches.
"There is a lot of cricket to play," Burns said.
"I'm enjoying the challenge of batting No.5 (in the one-dayers), it's a little bit different.
"It keeps me fresh and up to speed with my training and trying to adapt to different situations. A few weeks time I get back into red ball and opening and go from there."
Meanwhile he admitted nerves for the Bulls teammates Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser, who could earn Test debuts on Sunday.
"I'm actually getting a little bit nervous for that first Test to see those boys get out there and have a crack," he said.
"(Marnus) has worked incredibly hard and developed his game immensely over the past few years for Queensland.
"He's a handy legspin bowler as well and obviously a very good fielder. I think he will give them a lot in Dubai, hopefully there is an opportunity there."
