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Tubby Taylor: Drop Konstas for WTC, open with Marnus
SEN • June 5th, 2025 1:56 pm
Ahead of the World test Championship final next week, former Australia Test captain Mark Taylor believes teen sensation Sam Konstas will be the unlucky one to miss out for selection ad has tipped Marnus Labuschagne to open at Lord’s.
Australia have a 15-man squad in London for the on-off final against South Africa which gets underway on June 11 in England, but it is widely expected that Konstas will be snubbed until the West Indies tour.
Konstas became an overnight sensation in the cricket world last summer after hitting the third fastest debut 50 for an Australian before being dismissed for an impressive 60 off 65 at the MCG against India.
And while many will want to see him continue his brilliance, Taylor believes his time will come, but not in London.
“I’m not going Konstas,” Taylor told SENQ Breakfast.
“I’m leaving him out and keeping Marnus but moving him to the top of the order just for that Test.
“I’m putting Konstas in my XI for the start of the West Indies tour and see how he goes.
“Hopefully he cements his spot there for the rest of the year.
“With Sam, look at what happened in the summer, he played that MCG innings which I think surprised everyone including himself, I don’t think he normally plays that way.
“He took a chance to play a T20 type innings and got away with it but I don’t think you can make a career playing like that.
“What he has to do is go back and play like Konstas plays, like he used to, state level etc, not batting like he did at the G.
“That’s his next move. Show us what you can do besides flick to third man, show us you can bat then make a career out of being a top order player.”
Cam Green was included in the Australia squad travelling to London despite not having bowled since undergoing back surgery.
But a timely century with Gloucestershire means he will be firmly in selectors minds.
For Taylor, Green’s inclusion is a no-brainer.
“I think that shows you the high regard they have for Cam,” he said.
“In Green you have an all-round cricketer and that’s the attraction. He’s still not bowling at the moment but on his day he can bat at top 4. He’s a handy cricketer and they want him straight back in.”
As for his starting line-up?
“Uzzy, Marnus, Smith, Green, Head, Webster, Carey, that’s my seven and then the bowlers. The only question is Boland or Hazlewood.”
The WTC gets underway at 8pm AEST on June 11. SEN will be live streaming throughout the Test.
