Shane Watson was pleased with his low-key comeback in grade cricket but insists he is still some way off an international return.
The 30-year-old suffered an injury-plagued start to his career and was in and out of the Australia team on a regular basis before cementing his place at the top of the order in all forms of the game on the 2009 tour of England.
The Queensland-born star has become an integral part of the Aussie line-up with consistent performances with the bat and the ability to take vital wickets with his brisk medium pace.
But injury struck once again on last year's tour to South Africa and he has not played since the second Test victory over the Proteas in Johannesburg last November.
Watson missed the entire Test series with India and will play no part against either MS Dhoni's men or Sri Lanka in the current triangular one-day series.
The Aussies have missed his presence at the top of the order with a number of batsmen given the chance in his stead.
Ed Cowan and David Warner seem to have forged a decent partnership in Test cricket with hints this week from coach Mickey Arthur that Watson might return in the middle order.
But he will probably open the batting in both shortened versions of the sport when he finally gets the call to the national side.
It is still unclear when that will be but he did make 30 off 27 balls and finished with 0-17 off six overs playing for Sutherland against Eastern Suburbs at Waverley Oval.
The burly all-rounder was happy with his work-out and admitted he cannot wait to get back to full fitness.
"It's been a very frustrating couple of months. It's something I love, doing so much, so I missed it a lot," he told reporters after the match.
"There's been a few false starts over the last month or so, so to be able to get through the game was the most important thing.
"
In the end, I suppose I got more than I was hoping out of the day."
The Ipswich-born star plans to play for New South Wales against Western Australia in a state game next week but refused to put a date on when he might return to wear the baggy green cap.
"
If I'm able to get through a Shield game then and get some bowling into me in that Shield game, I feel like I will be ready to be able to play one-day cricket especially," he added. "
But I'm not getting too far in front of myself."