OUT OF FORM opener Mark Taylor has run out of time to save himself as Australia cricket captain and should be sacked before next week's first Ashes test against England, former skipper Ian Chappell has said.

Chappell called for Taylor's axing after the lefthanded opener's latest batting failure on tour, a fourth ball duck in the penultimate match before the first test begins at Edgbaston on June 5th.

"I have not seen anything in Mark Taylor's batting to say he's coming out of the slump" Chappell was quoted as saying in Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper.

"(Australia) have got to get two openers in form and I don't think they have got time to mess around with him any more.

"You have really got to ask yourself now is it a prolonged slump or is he gone?" said Chappell, who is working as a television commentator during the tour.

Chappell's comments came after an antiTaylor barrage in Australian newspapers.

Taylor's immediate future rests with a three man tour selection panel comprising coach Geoff Marsh, himself as captain and vice captain Steve Waugh.