Jackson Bird has given national selectors a reminder of his talent by snaring match-winning figures of 10-77 for Tasmania but it's unclear whether the message will be received.
Bird rocked Queensland with a first-innings haul of 5-35 from 19 overs then backed it up with figures of 5-42 at the Gabba on Friday, when Tasmania rolled the Bulls for 93 and cruised to a 246-run victory in the Sheffield Shield final rematch.
The reliable right-armer was overlooked for the current two-Test series in the UAE plus the preceding Australia A tour of India.
Bird suggested this week he'd be surprised if he ever donned the baggy green again, basing his thoughts on the recent selection of rivals rather than any any formal advice.
Tasmania captain George Bailey feels it's hard for Test aspirants like his spearhead Bird, who memorably missed out on a Test call-up in 2016 partly because of his batting, to know where they sit.
"Players would probably find it difficult to know when and where they are selectable at the moment," Bailey said
"I don't feel there has been great clarity around that in the past.
"A lot of it is driven by the media. You score runs at the right time, take wickets at he right time then noise is made and that's part of the battle.
"All you can do as a player is perform."
Bird earned man-of-the-match honours ahead of fellow Test discard Alex Doolan, whose first-innings knock of 115 put the game on the visitors' terms.
The 31-year-old grabbed five of six wickets to fall as the defending champions crashed to 6-58 in their second innings, essentially ruining any hope they had of salvaging a draw.
"He was awesome," Bailey said.
The most recent of Bird's nine Tests was against England at the MCG last summer, when he was recalled in the absence of injured spearhead Mitchell Starc.
"It's good to see him do well," Josh Hazlewood said.
"Every time he's gone back to Shield he has basically dominated ... he's always putting his hand up."
Bird was set to tour South Africa earlier this year but a hamstring injury meant he was a late scratching.
The seamer removed Sam Heazlett, Charlie Hemphrey, Nathan McSweeney and Jack Wildermuth early on day four at the Gabba, having earlier bowled opener Sam Truloff for a third-ball duck in the opening over of the innings.
"We just weren't good enough. Today was probably the best day to bat and unfortunately we couldn't do the job," Bulls captain Jimmy Peirson said.
"Credit to Tasmania's bowlers. They showed us how to bowl on the Gabba."
