NSW v Queensland, Sheffield Shield: Joe Burns makes century, Nathan Lyon takes 0-55 Nathan Lyon prepares to bowl for NSW against Queensland in the Sheffield Shield. Photo by Chris Hyde Source: News Corp Australia AUSTRALIA has developed yet another cricket headache with Test spinner Nathan Lyon subjected to a brutal batting assault by Queenslander Joe Burns. Lyon (0-55) never looked like taking a wicket and didn't force a single false stroke in a Sheffield Shield outing for New South Wales as his innocuous recent form continued. While Lyon could not fire a shot, Burns stamped his credentials as a potential future Australian player with a fabulous 183. The Queenslander took particular delight in smashing Lyon over the fence. He went crash, bang, wallop to lift Lyon into the Gabba grandstands for sixes to bring up his 50, 100 and 150. India's batsmen, fine players have spin, will hardly be waking up in a cold sweat about the prospect of facing Lyon in the first Test at the Gabba next month. Joe Burns takes to spin bowling on his way to a century. Photo by Chris Hyde. Lyon's plain form, following on from his listless Test performances against Pakistan recently, is the last thing Australia needs at a time when the side is creaking under injury and form woes. Australia has a captain and a wicketkeeper who are injured, top-order batsmen out of form and now a spinner who can't seem to take a wicket. Recent Test rookie spinner Steve O'Keefe couldn't strike either for NSW yesterday as he finished with 0-57. Burns was terrific as the 25-year-old hit his highest first-class score and his seventh century to boost his average comfortably over 40. With former New South Welshman Peter Forrest hitting 87 not out, Queensland reached an imposing 3-326 at stumps. Burns has been building momentum for several years but it hasn't been all straightforward as he can sometimes be a feast-or-famine batsman. Teammates say he is at his best when he is not thinking deeply about his performances but can struggle when he over-analyses his batting. But yesterday was Burns at his best, mixing power with elegance and always looking assured at the crease. He is starting to put his hand up for higher honours and is a genuine three-format player. He has the temperament and technique to bat long innings in first-class cricket but can also bludgeon bowlers in quick time in T20 and one-day cricket. Queensland was fortunate to win the toss in a stinking hot day in Brisbane and they made the NSW bowlers wilt in the scorching heat. Blues paceman Gurinder Sandhu (2-53) took the early wickets of Marnus Labuschagne (6) and Greg Moller (0) as the Bulls fell to 2-29. But it was all plain sailing from there for the home side with Burns combining with Forrest for a mammoth 254-run partnership The bowling figures of former Test paceman Doug Bollinger (1-71) were better than they looked and he kept charging in despite the oppressive Brisbane heat, eventually having Burns caught at slip. Burns would have loved to score his first double century but was more than satisfied with his work yesterday.