Starc, Blues cruise to big win

Paceman Mitchell Starc and fellow Test big guns fired on Friday as NSW demolished South Australia by 215 runs in their Sheffield Shield match at the Adelaide Oval.

Starc followed his five-wicket haul in the first innings with another three victims as the Redbacks, chasing an unlikely 434 runs to win, were bowled out for 218 with Callum Ferguson (96) playing a lone hand.

The Blues banked the win inside three days, with Test players Starc, captain Steve Smith, David Warner, Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan Lyon all influential.

WATCH: Full highlights of Smith's 150

Starc terrorised SA's batsmen throughout, taking 3-62 in the second dig after claiming 5-28 in the first.

Test skipper Smith blasted an unbeaten 152, adding to his first innings 62, while Warner's triumphant return from a broken thumb netted scores of 77 and 30.

Quick Single: Smith pulls the strings

Tweaker Lyon took 2-64 in the second innings and Hazlewood was overshadowed by Starc but still effective, with 3-23 from 15 overs in the second innings after 2-20 in the first.

All are in the squad for Australia's first Test against New Zealand starting on Thursday in Brisbane.

The Blues' victory push met resistance from SA's Ferguson, who survived a fearful blow from Starc in his classy knock.

WATCH: Ferguson felled by Starc short ball

Ferguson, on six, was hit on the helmet by a searing Starc bouncer and appeared to be saved from injury by a new protective attachment to his helmet which became available after last year's death of Phillip Hughes.

The Starc bumper crashed into the plastic and foam attachment behind the ear and lower skull, which was knocked off Ferguson's helmet by the impact.

NSW's Warner, as he was when Hughes was hit, was first to the aid of the batsman.

Ferguson was stunned but kept his feet and, after checking the helmet and a couple of minutes of respite, continued batting until he was the last man dismissed when a boundary away from a deserved century.

South Australia: Kelvin Smith, Mark Cosgrove, Callum Ferguson, Travis Head (capt), Tom Cooper, Alex Ross, Tim Ludeman, Adam Zampa, Joe Mennie, Kane Richardson, Daniel Worrall

NSW Blues: Ed Cowan, David Warner, Nic Maddinson, Steve Smith (capt), Moises Henriques, Peter Nevill, Sean Abbott, Stephen O'Keefe, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon