Former Australian opener Chris Rogers has cautioned against throwing 19-year-old wunderkind Sam Konstas into the Team team.

Konstas scored twin centuries in the opening match of the Shield season and is considered Australia’s brightest young star.

He is battling it out with Nathan McSweeney, Cameron Bancroft, and Marcus Harris to fill the vacant spot in the national team.

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But Rogers – who coaches Harris at Victoria – warns 19 may be too young to be handed a baggy green.

Rogers was 30 by the time he was given his, and was dropped after just one match before spending more than five years out of the Test team. After his recall in 2013 aged 35, he went on to average 42.87 in 25 Tests.

His story is similar to Mike Hussey – the Aussie great who debuted at 30 before compiling 6235 runs at an enviable 51.52 in 79 matches.

While Rogers and Hussey found success after their 30th birthdays, Konstas may be thrown in the deep end before he’s even reached his 20th.

“I would just ask the question is he going to help win us this series, and if he’s not, if we don’t think he’s going to make that much of a difference, I would just leave it for this summer just because going and facing India could set you back a little bit,” Rogers told SEN radio.

“And there’s no rush, he’s only 19, there’s going to be a big future for him. Maybe a softer landing. I know some people won’t agree with that, but I think to go up against India, you’ve got to be resilient, you’ve got to have things in order when it goes wrong, because they’re going to challenge you hard.

“I’d be looking for someone a little bit more established at the moment, and then in the future say we can look at something different.”

Konstas’ NSW teammate Josh Hazlewood rubbished the idea of being too young to play Test cricket.

Hazlewood was also 19 when he was handed his baggy green.

“I don’t think anyone’s too young,” Hazlewood said on Thursday.

“A lot of the guys around here have played international cricket at quite a young age in different formats.

“I think for Test cricket if you need to throw him in there, people play at a young age from time to time, not all the time, I’m sure he’ll work it out if he gets thrown in there.”

Surprise Test bolter McSweeney, meanwhile, says he is prepared to bat anywhere in the Australian order if given a chance.

The 25-year-old will captain Australia A next week in what will effectively be a bat-off for the vacant spot in the national men’s team.

Konstas, Western Australia’s Bancroft, and veteran Victorian leftie Harris are the other contenders who will suit up against India A in Mackay.

Australia has a void left by the retirement of David Warner which selectors have yet to find an obvious pick for.

McSweeney scored three centuries for South Australia last Sheffield Shield season, and has one to his name from four knocks already this season.

He bats at No.3 and it’s been suggested his selection in the Test team would force Marnus Labuschagne up the order to partner Usman Khawaja.

But McSweeney says he will happily open the batting if asked to.

“I guess batting three, I prepare with the new ball at training (already),” he said on Thursday.

“In the worst case you can be out there the second ball of the game, so it’s probably not too dissimilar.

“I’d bat anywhere for Australia, obviously.”

McSweeney has represented Australia A – effectively the national reserves team – in the past but has never genuinely been spoken of as a Test contender.

He averages 37.25 in first class cricket and has leadership qualities, hence his captaincy at state and Australia A level.

“There’s definitely been a lot of talk about it, in the media and whatnot,” he told 9News of a potential Test debut.

“It’s kind of everywhere you look at the moment. To see people here on Sunday watching Shield cricket was amazing, we don’t normally get that.

“As a kid growing up you want to play for Australia and get that baggy green, so to have people talking like that… I’m really lucky.

“I’ve been able to be pretty consistent for South Australia the past couple seasons, I feel like my game is getting better.”

The first Test begins November 22 in Perth.