I think going to the West Indies, Australia have got to bring Sam Konstas back in: Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor urged the Australian team management to have Sam Konstas open the batting in the impending tour of the West Indies. The 19-year-old, who showed a lot of promise during his maiden Test series, which was against India, had to watch Australia go down to South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final from the sidelines this week. The Baggy Greens decided to open with Marnus Labuschagne and have Cameron Green bat at No. 3.

Taylor opined that Australia haven’t found a replacement for David Warner, who retired from Test cricket in January 2024. With Steve Smith dislocating his little finger during the WTC final, a return for Konstas seems on the cards.

“David Warner retired nearly two years ago now and we haven’t really found a replacement for him. Although, they really haven’t tried that hard either, to be totally honest with you. Travis Head moved up the order (in Sri Lanka), Konstas was left out having debuted at Melbourne with that swashbuckling 60 that he made,” said Taylor on Nine’s Wide World of Sports show on Sunday.

“I think going to the West Indies, we’ve got to bring Konstas back in and I think he will play in a more orthodox fashion. He should be given an opportunity and the fact that Steve Smith won’t play in that series makes it a little bit easier for the selectors,” he added.

Labuschagne failed to make a mark in the WTC final, registering scores of 17 and 22. Green, on the other hand, couldn’t get to double figures in either innings on his international comeback following back surgery.

Australia to tour West Indies later this month

Australia are set to travel to the Caribbean to face the West Indies in three Tests and five T20Is. The first Test is set to be played at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, from June 25 to June 29. The West Indies have not played a Test match since they drew a two-match series in Pakistan against Shan Masood’s men 1-1 in January.

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