Doug Bollinger had two wickets in his first three deliveries, the new ball hooping around and the old ball reversing.
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But the forgotten Australian paceman isn't holding his breath for an international resurrection after dramatically falling down the pecking order of the country's fast bowlers.
Bollinger (2-39) put on an impressive display for NSW as it took the upper hand after the first day of the Sheffield Shield game at Canberra's Manuka Oval on Tuesday.
The Bulls were on track to be bundled out cheaply when they slumped to 2-0 and 4-18, before half centuries to Nathan Reardon and Chris Hartley steadied the ship and took Queensland to 7-198 at stumps.
Bollinger has taken 50 wickets from 12 Tests at an average of 26, but the 31-year-old hasn't donned the baggy green for almost two years.
Six other fast bowlers - Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood and John Hastings - have been selected in a 14-man squad for the third Test against South Africa at the WACA Ground, starting on Friday. Injured duo Pat Cummins and Ryan Harris have also been involved in the Test team while Bollinger has been overlooked.
''A little bit disappointed, but hopefully I can get another go and if not, that's the way it is, I'll just keep playing for NSW and taking as many [wickets] as I can,'' Bollinger said.
''Good luck to the boys that got picked, especially Josh Hazlewood, he's been bowling well, and I hope they get a go.''
With national selector Andy Bichel sitting in the grandstands, Bollinger made the most of swing-friendly conditions, dismissing Bulls opener Wade Townsend leg before wicket on the first ball of the day.
More joy came two balls later when Usman Khawaja got caught plumb in front, umpire Paul Reiffel having no hesitation in raising the finger.
Bollinger toiled hard when the shine went off the ball without any luck, with Reardon singing the paceman's praises. ''If he keeps bowling like that I don't think Test cricket will be too far away again for him,'' Reardon said. ''He got it to start going reverse nicely at the end and he's a quality bowler.''
Left-arm quick Josh Lalor (2-28) chimed in to have the Bulls in dire straits before Reardon and Hartley put together a valuable 117-run partnership. As they appeared to gain the upper hand, rookie leg-spinner Adam Zampa grabbed both wickets, dismissing Hartley lbw for 66 before Reardon top-edged a sweep shot to be on his way for 71.
''It was a bit of a rush of blood, that's pretty common with me,'' Reardon said of his dismissal. ''It probably wasn't the situation or the time of the game to be playing it, but hopefully the bowlers can do a job with the bat for us.''
Ben Cutting (23 not out) and Cameron Gannon (four not out) will resume on Wednesday at 10am.
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AT A GLANCE
SHEFFIELD SHIELD: Queensland 7-198 (N Reardon 71, C Hartley 66; J Lalor 2-28, A Zampa 2-30, D Bollinger 2-39) at stumps on day one against NSW at Manuka Oval.