Can the Sheffield Shield answer these Test questions?

[Torrent Disney]

Australia retained the Ashes in England for the first time in 18 years yet the 2-2 result arguably left as many questions as answers about how their Test side will be shaped moving forward. There are four Sheffield Shield rounds before the first of five home Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand this summer. Here are the issues the selectors will be looking to find answers for prior to the first Test in Brisbane and throughout the season.

The openers

David Warner is coming off the worst Test series for any opener who batted at least 10 times. However, all indications are that Warner is a lock for Brisbane based on his phenomenal overall record compared to those vying for his spot. Marcus Harris will be under pressure as the incumbent having made just two half-centuries in nine Tests and the selectors will think long and hard about a left-right combination.

Cameron Bancroft lost his place after four failures in the Ashes and would need a string of huge Shield scores to earn a recall. Joe Burns will be the most intriguing man to watch. He made 180 in his last Test match, and then another century against Sussex during the Australia A tour of the UK prior to the Ashes after recovering from post-viral fatigue, yet he missed the Ashes squad entirely. With four Test hundreds in 16 Tests, it is hard to fathom how he has not earned an extended run. Matt Renshaw is the forgotten man following a lean summer last year but runs in the Shield games will put him back into the equation.

The other question surrounds Usman Khawaja. There seems little doubt he is among Australia's best six batsmen in home conditions but given Marnus Labuschagne's impressive performances at No. 3 in the Ashes, does Khawaja open with Warner given his outstanding record in his brief opening stints at Test level?