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Former Australia captain Mark Taylor is unhappy with the team management keeping young opener Sam Konstas on the sidelines. After the defeat in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's, Taylor sees Konstas walking back into the playing XI as opener for West Indies tour.
"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. 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," Taylor said as quoted by nine.com.au.
Konstas replaced Nathan McSweeney in the squad during Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He impressed with a half-century on debut and impressed many with the way he took on Jasprit Bumrah. Since the Border-Gavaskar series, he did not get to open on Sri Lanka tour and was ignored for WTC final as well. In the final, Marnus Labuschagne was promoted to open alongside Usman Khawaja whereas Cameron Green batted at no.3.
Taylor doesn't want Khawaja to play Ashes
In the final, Khawaja scored 0 and 6 in first and second innings. Labuschagne for starts (17 and 22) in both innings but could not convert them into big scores. On the other hand, Cameron Green managed to score just four runs. Taylor does not want Khawaja to open in the home Ashes series over his diminishing returns against the pacers.
"The other problem that Australia has is Usman Khawaja at the top of the order - he's not playing the quicks as well as I'd like him to be playing them. The last couple of years he has averaged 34, but if you take out the 200 he made in Sri Lanka on a low and slow pitch, he's averaged 25. We've got a problem with Marnus and obviously Uzzy at the top of the order, so we need to sort that out. England will bring a very good quick bowling side and we've got to get that right," Taylor added.
Australia's next Test assignment
Australia will now head to West Indies where they will play a three-Test series. While Konstas is likely to walk into the side, Labuschagne may warm the benches if Steve Smith is declared fit. Khawaja is also likely to retain his place despite poor show in WTC 2025 final.
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