Dumped batsman Rob Quiney is thankful for his two Tests but is hungry for more On the final day of the Australia A tour game, Alex Doolan looked in fine touch before he was bowled by a James Anderson beauty for 31. Usman Khawaja could only manage 3 and Shaun Marsh compiled a stylish 27 not out before the end of play. Rob Quiney has been in strong form for Victoria. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images IF Rob Quiney was an Australian selector, he would have dropped himself. This time last year, the Victorian carpentry apprentice was living the dream and preparing to become Australia's 429th Test player in the Gabba Test against South Africa. Two Tests later, after making a dreaded pair in Adelaide, he was given his marching orders. But the batsman they call Bobby has a different attitude to many other cricketers who have been dumped by Australia in recent years. Even though he has often struggled for form since being dropped, he has refused to get down in the dumps and believes he only has himself to blame for blowing his baggy green dream. "When I was dropped, I wasn't kicking cans or sitting there saying 'this is bullshit," Quiney said. I felt it was the right decision. When the captain and coach sat me down after my second Test and said Shane Watson was fit again and they were going with him for the next Test, I thought it was fair enough. I hadn't performed with my opportunity. I was the one who had stuffed it up. When Quiney was a shock selection to play at the Gabba last year, the word was that high-powered forces in Australian cricket viewed him as something of a sacrificial lamb. Selectors were apparently keen to play Phil Hughes but were worried the diminutive left-hander would be roughed up by the imposing South African pace attack, having been exposed by them before. Rob Quiney walks onto the MCG for the Sheffield Sheild clash with NSW. Quiney heard the rumours but insists he did not let them get him down. "Even if that was the case, I still feel lucky because it got me two Tests that I never thought I would get," he said.. At the end of the day, I will take those two Tests. I had a fantastic opportunity to make runs and I didn't take it. I could have gone out there and made 100 and never looked back. I knew as soon as I got dropped that I hadn't fallen just one or two spots in the pecking order, I'd fallen about 10-12 spots. Right now, 12 months on, I am still ecstatic that I've had the opportunity to play Test cricket. But I do want more. It's like winning $1 million and then spending it. Of course you want more, don't you? Quiney, a one-time 115kg couch potato who was obsessed with gulping Coca-Cola, scoffing junk food and drinking beer, did plenty of hard yards reinventing himself to win the chance to play Test cricket. Now 31, he knows he would need huge runs for Victoria at exactly the right time to be any chance of wearing the baggy green cap again. Looking back on his roller-coaster summer last year, he says he never got too down but he now thinks it may have robbed him of more mental petrol tickets that he had realised. It wasn't like I was down in the dumps and depressed. I thought I was still in a good space and I didn't know why I couldn't make runs after being dropped," Quiney says. For some reason I couldn't get clarity in my game. Then the Twenty20 Big Bash came along that was more detrimental than good. Rob Quiney drives the ball past Doug Bollinger. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images Some people said it would be good for me to whack the ball around and let off some steam. But it wasn't as though I had to let off steam. I wanted to get out in the middle and bat long amounts of time and I guess the Big Bash wasn't the right option for me. As he deals with the fallout of his sacking a year ago, Quiney has banned himself from watching replays of himself as a Test cricketer. It's not that he doesn't want to see his pair in Adelaide - he just doesn't see the point in dwelling on the past. The only time I have seen myself bat in Test cricket has been in the changerooms while I was playing and the TV showed the dismissals. That's it,' Quiney says. I got stuck on the crease both times in Adelaide, but batsmen sometimes do that. I could tear shreds off myself for those dismissals but I could have still nicked them, whatever I did. It is easy to run away from things but I never wanted to do that. If you run away from something, you come back and it's still going to be there. Once cricket is over, it is over. I am determined to make the most of it while I am still playing. I do really hope I can get back to playing for Australia one day. Australia coach Darren Lehmann says he hasn't "closed the door on anyone" as a posse of Test aspirants confront the summer that could make or break their international careers. With the first Ashes Test just 11 days away, Australia have so many domestic campaigners knocking on the door Test selectors could feasibly pick the Forgotten XI. Rob Quiney walks off after being dismissed by Morne Morkel. Pics Adam Head Source: News Limited As he attempts to return Australia to the apex of world cricket, Lehmann says several state stars are just one bumper summer away from breaking into the national fold. "The door is not closed on anyone," said Lehmann, who replaced Mickey Arthur as coach in June. Any player who scores a lot of runs in a season, or takes a lot of wickets, can put their hand up for Australian selection. We are looking at everyone and weight of performances are the things that count. No-one is out of contention for Australian selection. With George Bailey favoured to make his Test debut at the Gabba at age 31, the Tasmanian is a template for many contemporaries, including: REMEMBER the bald eagle? It has been almost three years since Bollinger was last seen in the baggy-green during his ill-fated spell against England in Adelaide. Bollinger laboured through 29 overs in oppressive heat, fuelling the perception he lacked the fitness to be a Test force. His numbers tell a different story: 50 wickets in 12 Tests at 25.92. Now 32, Bollinger claimed a seven-wicket haul against Tasmania last week and former Test teammate Simon Katich is adamant the left-arm quick is not finished. "I can't see why Doug can't play Test cricket again," Katich said. He got judged largely on that one Test in Adelaide. It probably hurt him but hopefully it acts as motivation. There's no doubt for me he can be back bowling for Australia. BLINK and you may have missed Quiney's Test cameo. Exactly 12 months ago, the Victorian was handed a Test debut against South Africa, only to be axed after scores of 9, 0 and 0. At 31, Quiney doesn't want to be two-Test wonder. "The big word that I feel about it is disappointment," he said. At the moment, I'm not looking anything past playing for Victoria. That is a bit of a shame. I really would like another chance at Test cricket but I would like that chance through earning the right and having a lot of runs on the board. FERGUSON turns 29 on the opening day of the first Test against England. Unfortunately, he will be nowhere near the Gabba. Once touted as a middle-order Test batsman, the South Australian has failed to parlay his Australian one-day form into a baggy-green. He averages 41.44 from 30 ODIs and was a member of Australia's 2011 World Cup squad, but has failed to score major first-class runs when it matters most. THE burly left-hander's issue is not a lack of runs but rather his long-time battle with the bulge. That may have changed. Nicknamed 'Baby Boof', Cosgrove has lost 16kg this year in a bid to prove he is serious about the sport. The 29-year-old averages 43.22 at first-class level and his mark of 52.27 in 35 matches for English county side Glamorgan is proof he can play the game. Even at SA I don't think cricket was a problem. It was more the perception that everyone has about me that probably holds me back a bit," he said. I am only 29 so I would hope I still have another four or five good years in me. THE Tasmanian wicketkeeper played the last of his four Tests three years ago after a nightmare finger injury that required a slew of operations. Paine was once touted as a future Test captain. Now, at 28, he is on the comeback trail and can see the light as a member of the Australia A team. Brad Haddin is obviously the No. 1 (keeper) but after that, who knows?" he said. That is a good thing for the guys who have probably been back in the order in the last couple of years. It has certainly opened right up. THE son of Geoff Marsh seemed the perfect fit for Australia at No.3. He scored 141 against Sri Lanka in his Test debut in 2011. Then it all fell apart. He averaged a woeful 2.83 in a series against India two summers ago and hasn't been seen since. But with Australia's batting depth at a worrying low, the 30-year-old has the talent to fight back. "I guess I've learned a lot from it (being dropped) and I'm certainly a better player for it," he says. It really showed me you had to be 100 per cent mentally on top of your game and I probably wasn't during that series. But if I did get another opportunity I would be a lot better prepared. THE 27-year-old from Tasmania is making noises at the right time. He cracked 132 against NSW last week and this time a year ago plundered 161 not out for Australia A against South Africa. It's not every day Ricky Ponting lauds a state batsman. He believes Doolan is Test quality. "His season last year was outstanding, a couple of times 'Dools' was batting with Ricky (Ponting) and was not outclassed at all," Tasmania teammate George Bailey said. He certainly looks like he has the technique and the temperament for Test cricket.