After the third day's play, Queensland were 52 for one and still needing another 236 runs to make the tourists bat a second time.

The Caribbean tourists held a 288-run first-innings lead when they declared at a ground record 612 for nine following the end of Samuels' 304-ball knock in the last session at the Allan Border Field.

The Jamaican's innings, which included 34 boundaries and eight sixes, eclipsed the 250 scored by Queensland's Martin Love against England three years ago.

The inconsistent Samuels was a contentious selection in the 15-man tour squad and was not expected to play in next Thursday's first Test before Wavell Hinds broke his finger on day one.

"Usually I'm not getting the opportunity and I got the opportunity today so I grasped the opportunity with both hands," Samuels said.

"Cricket is a glorious game of uncertainty so you never know what happens... and when Wavell broke his finger I was here to fill that gap."

The 24-year-old has played only 19 Tests in five years, averaging 29, but believes he will improve after building his physical and mental strength under Australian coach Bennett King and trainer Bryce Cavanagh.

Rating the massive total a "very special team effort", Samuels warned Australia would face a different West Indies team in the three-Test series, getting underway at the Gabba next week.

"In the past we've come to Australia and we've been rollovers but this is going to be a different aspect in our game and we're going to be a lot stronger and very competitive," he said.

The Windies' score was also a record at the ground, beating the 582 posted by Queensland against the touring English in 2002-03.

It came despite the absence of Hinds, who did not bat because of a broken finger suffered while fielding on the opening day of the tour match.

Samuels and Daren Powell (34 not out) combined for a record ninth-wicket partnership of 156.

Off-spinners Chris Simpson (4-173 off 39 overs) and Symonds (2-43) were Queensland's best bowlers.

Test opener Matthew Hayden (22) was the only wicket to fall in Queensland's second innings, hooking Tino Best (1-29) to Brian Lara on the fine-leg boundary.

Lara only scored one in his five-ball stay at the crease which ended when he played fast bowler Mitchell Johnson on to his stumps.

Lara, batting with a sore little finger at the unfamiliar position of number eight, was out to a wild attempted cut.

The cheap dismissal threatens to leave Lara considerably underdone for match practice before the first Test against Australia, starting Thursday at the Gabba.

Since arriving in Australia at the start of this month to play for the World XI, Lara has failed to reach double figures in five of his six innings here to average less than 10.

Despite Windies management earlier saying Lara was likely to bat at the fall of the first wicket Saturday, it took three dismissals in the tour match before he finally strode to the crease in the final over before lunch.

There was more concern over in-form quick Powell who didn't bowl in Queensland's second innings because of a quad strain.