Mark Taylor reveals key change that can bring young star Sam Konstas back into Test team

Australian cricket great Mark Taylor has called for Sam Konstas to go back to basics if he wants any chance of being selected in the Test team over the summer.

It has been just shy of 12 months since Konstas burst onto the international scene, but the young star has been hit by the axe for the second time in his young Test career.

A troubling run in the Sheffield Shield was no help to the 20-year-old's Ashes hopes, with selectors overlooking him in favour of Jake Weatherald to make his debut.

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Konstas was left out of Australia's two-match series against Sri Lanka at the start of 2025 due to selectors preferring the talent of Travis Head to open the batting.

He was then axed from the World Test Championship final in June against South Africa.

A troubling run of results for Marnus Labuschagne at Lords during that match against South Africa saw the 31-year-old dropped and Konstas promoted back into the squad for the three Test matches played in the Caribbean.

Now, the tables have turned once again, with Konstas struggling in the Sheffield Shield.

For New South Wales, Konstas has produced scores of 4, 14, 0, 53, 10 and 41. Meanwhile, Labuschagne has whacked five centuries in eight innings for Queensland.

"My advice to Sam would be to go back (to the Shield) and work out how you got into the Australian team," Taylor said about Konstas on Friday.

"He got there not by ramping Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG.

"Go back to what you do well, how you normally bat, and do it over and over again, just as Marnus has done over the past two months, and then get picked again.

"If he does start making runs again - which I think he will - then he will get picked again.

"He's only just turned 20, so he's got plenty of time on his side."

Taylor admitted he was unsure if Australia should risk playing Cameron Green if he is unable to bowl 20 overs when he plays in the Shield for Western Australia next week.

The 26-year-old has not batted at No.6 or lower since 2023, but has also not bowled at Test level since coming back for the WTC final, in what was his first game in a year.

"I would very much like to see Weatherald play," the former Australian captain said.

"I would like to see Weatherald and (Usman) Khawaja open, Marnus at three, (Steve) Smith, Head, and then you've got the question mark.

"If Cam's not bowling, then I think Beau Webster deserves to be selected.

"If Cam is bowling, and can bowl 10-15 overs, then I think Beau will miss out, and he'd be very unlucky to miss out."