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'Got to bring him back in': Mark Taylor urges selectors to recall Sam Konstas as veteran Aussies 'on notice'

Liam O'Loughlin
Liam O'Loughlin

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Mark Taylor has urged selectors to recall Sam Konstas for the upcoming series against the West Indies, with one veteran "on notice" to retain his spot.

Fresh off Australia's shock loss in the World Test Championship final against South Africa, debate has already started as to where the selectors go next.

The new-look opening pairing of Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja failed to fire at Lord's, while superstar batter Steve Smith looks set to be sidelined due to injury.

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The 36-year-old suffered a nasty dislocated finger against the Proteas and will likely miss at least some of and potentially all of the looming three-game Test series.

Steve Smith leaves Lord's with a dislocated finger.  PA Images via Getty Images

Smith's absence will likely open the door for Konstas to return in the top-order but according to Taylor, a major reshuffle has been a long time coming.

"David Warner retired nearly two years ago now and we haven't really found a replacement for him," he said on Nine's Wide World of Sports on Sunday morning.

"Although, they really haven't tried that hard either, to be totally honest with you.

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"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.

"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."

Sam Konstas during camp before the WTC final.  Getty

Konstas made just two appearances in the baggy green before being left out against Sri Lanka, which was seen as a horses for courses situation with Travis Head up top.

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However, with the career of Khawaja winding down and Labuschagne continuing to struggle, Taylor believes a changing of the guard is coming soon.

"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," he said.

"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.

Usman Khawaja.  Getty

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"England will bring a very good quick bowling side and we've got to get that right. 

"We've definitely got to get Konstas in, we've got to give him the opportunity. He will open the batting with Usman Khawaja - he's on notice too in my side, because people like [Nathan] McSweeney have got to get another opportunity at some stage.

"It's always a hard one when you get players towards the end of their careers.

"You want to see these guys finish on their terms, but you're in a national sporting team and you have got to pick your best side for today and also for the future."

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The series against the West Indies will begin on June 26.  

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