Mitchell Starc sent a timely reminder to Australia’s national selectors with a standout performance in Saturday night’s Big Bash League (BBL) derby at the SCG.

Fresh from snaring eight wickets in the WACA Test, Sydney Sixers left-arm paceman Starc swung the ball with venom to restrict the Thunder to a total of 5-143 in the Twenty20 clash.

The 22-year-old, who is set to battle it out with Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus for two positions in the Australian side for next week’s first Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart, snared the scalps of Usman Khawaja (19) and Cameron Borgas (11) to claim figures of 2-27.

The Thunder failed to form a partnership of note until No.6 Ryan Carters and No.7 Sean Abbott put on an unbeaten 55-run stand off 28 balls to add a small amount of substance to their total.

However Carter’s and Abbott’s rescue mission could well go to waste, with former Thunder captain David Warner poised to fire at the top of a talented Sixers batting order.

Warner, who made a cross-city shift to the defending BBL champions during the off-season, dropped a difficult diving chance when New Zealand opener Martin Guptill was on four in the fifth over.

Guptill, one of many who struggled to clear the rope in an innings that featured only four sixes, was unable to make the most of it and his stumps were disturbed by Luke Feldman in the 11th over.

After the opening three overs netted only 11 runs, Khawaja looked to go after Starc in the fourth and launched the first six of the game with a wristy flick to the leg-side fence.

Khawaja then effortlessly clipped a one-bounce four with a similar stroke, only to be undone in the same over by a full delivery from Starc that struck his back foot.

HawkEye replays suggested Khawaja was unlucky to be adjudged lbw.

Chris Rogers (23), captaining the Thunder in the absence of Michael Clarke (back), Guptill (20), Borgas and Rhett Lockyear (four) fell in relatively quick fashion before the Thunder’s fightback.