Mark Taylor urges selectors to back struggling Green and Konstas as bowlers paper over the batting cracks

Mark Taylor has urged the selectors to stick with the existing batting line-up until Steve Smith is ready to return, despite top-order struggles.

Cam Green and Sam Konstas have come under fire for their lack of runs, but Australia still managed a win in the first Test against the West Indies, thanks to some bowling heroics.

The middle-order combo of Travis Head, Beau Webster and Alex Carey were also key, with each player making 60-odd runs in the second innings.

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When asked if the performance of the Aussie bowlers was papering over the batting cracks, Taylor said "yes and yes".

"It is a good win, no doubt about that. Bowlers win your test matches. You need 20 wickets to win a Test match more often than not, and Australia have got an outstanding bowling attack," he told Nine's Wide World of Sports.

"We've had that for a long time. Yes, there is some cracks there. Obviously we're still trying to work out our top order, our top three and obviously Steve Smith didn't play in that game also. So we had quite a new top four.

"At the moment our runs in Test match cricket are generally coming from five, six and seven. Travis Head was man of the match in that game. Beau Webster made a 60. Alex Carey, who's probably the most sound player in the team, bar Steve Smith at the moment, is coming in at number seven. He also made 60 in the second innings, so our runs are coming from the lower order. Not so much from our top order."

Green has not made runs at No.3 since returning to the team from injury, making just 18 in Bridgetown and four during the World Test Championship.

Taylor however says the Aussies must persist with him in that spot for the remainder of this tour.

"I think Cameron Green has to stay there for this tour. Steve Smith will more than likely come in. I think he's coming back from the US from his broken finger. So he'll slot back in whenever he's ready," the former Australian captain said.

"He'll come back in at four I dare say. Australia have got to stick here. They've got Sam Konstas who's coming in as the new opener. He's only 19 and as has been widely reported, he's not quite the finished product at the moment. But he's our best young gun.

"He's got to be given an opportunity here to nail that spot down. And I think the same with Cameron Green. Now he's 26 years old, he's played 30 test matches, averages only 33, but has shown us – he made 174 last year in a Test match and guided Australia to victory – he can do it, but at the moment he's a bit I think he's a bit nervous.

"He's pushing hard at the ball because he's had injuries, he's had a chequered career in terms of not being able to play Test match after Test match and find his slot in the team, but we've got to stick with him because he's they're the best two of our young guys coming through."

The second Test of the series gets underway on Friday from the National Cricket Stadium in St George's, Grenada.

The Aussies will then play a third Test before shifting to a five-game T20I series.