Who impressed in opening Shield round
HOW AUSTRALIA'S TEST CONTENDERS FARED IN THE OPENING SHEFFIELD SHIELD ROUND
POSITIVES
* Tim Paine (121). Australia's Test skipper declared it "meant nothing to him" but it must have been a relief to post just his second first-class century
* David Warner (125, 0) and Marcus Harris (116). The incumbent Test openers both scored much-needed tons after battling during the Ashes
* Marnus Labuschagne (69, 52). Impressive again from the consistent Queenslander, who is looking to retain his Test No.3 spot ahead of state teammate Usman Khawaja
* Michael Neser (2-56, 3-42). The reserve Ashes paceman dismissed both Smith and Warner, as well as Moises Henriques, during NSW's second innings.
NEGATIVES
* Steve Smith (0, 21). Australia's golden boy had to slip up eventually after a phenomenal Ashes series. Fell for a fifth-ball duck in the first innings
* Usman Khawaja (1, 24). An untimely failure after being dropped in the UK. Scored back-to-back centuries in the domestic one-day competition earlier this month.
* Cameron Bancroft (30, 0). Like Khawaja, was axed during the Ashes and faces a tough road back into Australia's first-choice XI.
* Mitchell Starc (0-42, 1-87). Not what he was hoping for after being overlooked for all bar one Ashes Test. Big concerns heading into the home summer.
OTHERS
* Fringe runs. Not in the Test selection conversation but Tom Cooper (271 not out) and Nic Maddinson (224) both plundered double centuries, albeit on a lifeless Junction Oval pitch
* Young guns. Victoria's Will Pucovski (123) and South Australia's Alex Carey (117) continued to impress under the watchful eye of national selector Trevor Hohns
* Marsh brothers. Mitch Marsh (41, 53) - Australia's incumbent No.6 - put in a solid performance but will have scans on his bowling hand after punching a dressing-room wall. Older brother Shaun scored a classy second-innings 85 at the WACA Ground.
