NSW coach Phil Jaques believes the Sheffield Shield can springboard Mitchell Starc back into Australia's Test side despite a slow start to the red-ball season.

Starc lost his regular place in the Australian team during the Ashes after being one of the first quicks picked through almost every series since the 2015/16 summer.

Mitchell Starc played in just one of the five Ashes Tests. Credit:PA

He featured in just one of the five Tests played in England, claiming four wickets as Australia retained the Ashes in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

His start to the Australian summer was similarly inglorious.