Instead of another good look at George Bailey, Australian coach Darren Lehmann had to be content with a glimpse into the future on day two of Queensland's Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania on Thursday.
Still, Lehmann would have liked what he saw as Chris Lynn (74 not out) and Chris Hartley (52) helped Queensland recover from 2-7 to reach 3-131 at stumps in reply to Tasmania's 407 first dig.
Lehmann would have barely taken his seat before Tigers captain Bailey fluffed his Test audition.
The Australian one-day skipper was caught behind off Test quick Ryan Harris early on Thursday, trudging off without adding to his overnight score of 34.
It was a missed chance for Bailey who looked to back up his one-day heroics in India on the small, batsman-friendly Allan Border Field under Lehmann's watchful gaze.
Bulls wicketkeeper Hartley may have missed his Test window after again being leapfrogged by Tim Paine for Australia A honours in this week's tour match against England in Hobart.
But big things may await Lynn who maintained his stunning season start with the bat.
Not considered good enough for Shield duty just weeks ago, Lynn, 23, sealed Queensland's one-day final win over NSW before thrashing 104 and an unbeaten 61 for an WA Invitational XI in England's opening tour match.
He came to the crease with the Bulls reeling alongside Hartley who had been thrust into the opener's role after Nick Stevens suffered a knee injury.
Their 120-run stand finally ended when Hartley shouldered arms and copped a dubious LBW call off Andrew Fekete (1-39) just before stumps.
Earlier, Lehmann would have also been impressed by Test quick Harris (2-127 off 34 overs) who bowled with plenty of fire but not much luck in a lionhearted display ahead of this month's Ashes opener.
He carried a pace attack hampered by injuries to Cameron Gannon (side strain) and Luke Feldman (hamstring).
Still, Gannon gutsed it out to claim 5-53 in his first Shield game back since his bowling action was cleared.
"I was a beneficiary of some excellent bowling from Ryano (Harris)," Gannon said.
"He deserved a lot more wickets than he got.
"He provided the oomph the attack needed. It meant for them to score off the other guys and that helped me."
In all, Tasmania lost 8-116 on Thursday.
Ex-Test opener Ed Cowan (78) added just 10 runs to his overnight score.
Tasmanian stand-in wicketkeeper Ben Dunk (54) shared in a 74-run eighth wicket stand with Ben Hilfenhaus (25) before the Bulls bowling resumed their dominance.
The collapse was in contrast to Wednesday when Tasmania cruised with the bat after a 123-run opening stand by Jordan Silk (107) and Mark Cosgrove (74).
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