Bulls in cruise control at AB Field

Scorecard: Queensland v Tasmania

Returning Test quick Ryan Harris may have failed to take a wicket but Queensland had plenty to celebrate in their Bupa Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania in Brisbane.

At stumps on the first day, the Bulls have cruised to 1-73 off just 15 overs in reply to Tasmania's 217 first innings at a flat Allan Border Field.

Former Test No.3 Usman Khawaja is not out 31 off 35 balls while opener Joe Burns thrashed an unbeaten 29 off 30.

Marnus Labuschagne was caught behind off Sam Rainbird (1-17).

Earlier Harris had some close calls but no luck, finishing with 0-51 off 13 overs.

Queensland captain James Hopes (4-14 off 20 overs) led the way with the ball.

A patient Bulls spilled only one catch on Tuesday, with leggie Cameron Boyce putting down Andrew Fekete on 13 in the gully off quick Luke Feldman (4-69).

Fekete was the last to go for 20, playing on against Ben Cutting (1-46).

Harris was the only member of the Bulls attack who failed to claim a scalp.

The Shield clash is his final hit-out before the first Test against India in Brisbane from December 4.

Harris - in his second first class game since an eight-month layoff due to knee surgery - came closest to a breakthrough when Wells edged uppishly past Boyce in the first session.

Bulls coach Stuart Law was pleased with the Test quick, despite the absence of wickets. 

"He got wickets last week but didn't get any wickets today but I actually thought he bowled a lot better today," Law said.

"His pace was better than it was against NSW and his approach to the crease looked a lot smoother."

Harris said he would have no trouble ruling himself out of the first Test if he did not think his knee was 100 per cent.

But Law all-but guaranteed Harris would be good to go judging by his first-day effort.

"Ryan is one of those guys who gets better and better every time he bowls," he said.

"With a bit more bowling he should be right to go against the Indians."

Earlier, Alex Doolan (12 off 38 balls) missed a chance to push his Test cause.

Feldman was on a hat-trick when he had ex-Test No.3 Doolan caught behind before the Tigers crawled to 3-63 at lunch and limped to tea at 6-166.

Wells (47) top scored for Tasmania, sharing a 71-run fourth-wicket stand with captain George Bailey (31).

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