Burns reflects on his rollercoaster 2015

Queenslander Joe Burns says he accepted his Test axing earlier this year “easily”, despite the fact he posted a pair of fifties in what remains his most recent showing in Baggy Green.

Burns made a composed 58 in the first innings of the final Test of last summer’s Border-Gavaskar series, and then delighted the SCG crowd with an audacious 66 from just 39 balls as his team pursued quick runs.

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But amidst the excitement of a home World Cup in which Australia were again crowned world champions, and the stunning Sheffield Shield form of Warriors skipper Adam Voges, the Queenslander was seen by many as the forgotten man of Australian cricket, and unceremoniously dumped from the squad for the tours of the Caribbean and the British Isles.

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“Any time you get left out of an Australian side you're disappointed because you want to be playing for your country, there's no doubt about that,” he told cricket.com.au.

“But it's part of professional sport that sometimes you're not going to be selected and you can't let that affect your training, your preparation or the way you play.

“All you can focus on is your next training session and your next game and making sure you try and make runs in every single innings you have, and hopefully have success in every team you play in. 

“For me it was very simple and that's all I tried to do over the months that followed with Middlesex, Australia and the one-day side.”

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Burns said a brief chat with selectors followed his dumping but it appears the 26-year-old is more a man of action than words.

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“(I spoke with them) a little bit, but there wasn't really much to discuss,” he said matter-of-factly. “I understood the reasons; there were some fantastic players that came into the side and sometimes you've just got to wait your turn, make sure you keep performing and when a spot becomes available, make sure you're the guy who goes in.

“It's an outstanding side and that's why it's so hard to make it into the team.

“I accepted that easily.”

Instead of touring with the Australians, Burns went to Middlesex, ironically filling the shoes of Voges as the club’s mid-season overseas replacement.

Burns played seven first-class matches at the county club and despite failing to hit his straps with the bat (320 runs at 29 with a highest score of 87), says the experience truly was invaluable.

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The stint proved just the beginning of a busy winter schedule, with the right-hander then starring for Australia A in India in July-August and earning an ODI debut off the back of those performances, highlighted by a dazzling 154 against India A that contained a remarkable 14 sixes.

WATCH: Burns' ODI debut to savour

“At Middlesex, five out of the top six were international players, so the chance to play and train alongside some of the best players in the world was a great experience,” he said.

“I learnt a hell of a lot over the few weeks I was there.

“And to go from there over to India for Australia A and back to England again for the one-dayers, it was a great experience over the winter.

“I've learned plenty of lessons that I'm looking to implement over the coming months.”