Australia’s Ashes selection still unclear after opening Sheffield Shield round

• Three candidates for No6 berth fail to make runs
• Mitchell Starc enjoys career best figures of 8-73
  

Australia’s Ashes puzzle is no closer to being solved after the opening Sheffield Shield round tossed up more questions than answers for Test selectors. The wicketkeeping berth remains a mystery after all three candidates failed to make meaningful runs and leading contenders for the disputed No6 batting berth also could not present compelling cases for Ashes selection.

Related: Joe Root ready to prove critics wrong as England land in Australia for Ashes