Australian cricketer Will Pucovski faced another setback as a recent bouncer injury during the Victorian Second XI match raises concerns about his future.
In the recent second XI match against South Australia, Victorian batsman Will Pucovski faced a forced retirement due to a head knock. The 25-year-old, who had a sole Test appearance for Australia in January 2021, encountered the injury when he missed a bouncer from South Australian seamer David Grant. Despite being unbeaten on 42, Pucovski continued playing after consulting on-field medics but ultimately chose to retire hurt in the subsequent over.
Following the incident, Cricket Victoria provided reassurance, stating that Pucovski is in good condition while awaiting the results of a concussion test.
The ball that eventually forced Victorian gun Will Pucovski to retire hurt during his 2nd XI game against South Australia today. Batted on for four balls after being struck before leaving the field of play@wwos #9WWOS #Cricket pic.twitter.com/TPXoZNmXkn
— Will Faulkner (@willzfaulk) January 22, 2024
Pucovski, often hailed as a future star in Australian cricket, has faced a challenging journey marked by struggles with both concussion and mental health in his professional career. In the 2018/19 home summer, he took a six-week hiatus from cricket to address mental health issues, opting out of Test selection the following season.
The 25-year-old finally made his Test debut against India in the 2021 New Year’s Test at the SCG, contributing 61 in the first innings. However, an unfortunate shoulder injury led to his replacement by Marcus Harris.
Concussion setbacks persisted throughout the 2021/22 summer, including an unusual incident involving a volleyball during a Sheffield Shield warm-up. Taking an indefinite leave in October 2022, Pucovski returned to the sport through grade cricket in January last year.
Last Updated on January 22, 2024
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