Will Pucovski views it as a “second chance” with his current comeback to cricket and is emerging as a key member of Victoria’s effort to eye towards a Sheffield Shield final thrice on the trot. Will Pucovski broke his three-year streak without a century by scoring 131 runs off of 302 balls against New South Wales last Saturday at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Despite this achievement, the game was prematurely stopped by inclement weather, with Victoria needing just two wickets for victory.
The century was a bright spot for Will Pucovski, especially considering it followed his 11th concussion, which he sustained during a Second XI match against South Australia on January 21. The 26-year-old’s swift two-week recovery from the incident is seen optimistically by himself.
Will Pucovski stellar return to first class cricket after 3 years
Will Pucovski has made a stellar return by scoring his first century in first-class cricket in over three years during Victoria’s Sheffield Shield encounter with NSW. Making a comeback to the XI following a concussion-related absence, Pucovski broke his century drought on Sunday at the SCG, marking his first hundred since November 2020.
The 26-year-old displayed remarkable patience, hitting five boundaries en route to his hundred off 258 deliveries, marking his seventh first-class century. This accomplishment is not only a cause for celebration among Australian cricket enthusiasts but is particularly significant for Will Pucovski himself.
Regarded as a future Test star, Will Pucovski’s career has been marred by multiple concussions, impacting his mental well-being and prompting breaks from the sport. Despite playing only one Test match against India in January 2021, his career has been hindered by injuries and recurring concussions.
Will Pucovski’s century came after a solid opening partnership between Marcus Harris and Nic Maddinson, with Pucovski joining Maddinson at the crease after Harris’s dismissal. The pair added 47 runs before Maddinson departed for 108. Pucovski then combined with Peter Handscomb, who also reached a century, before the lunch break.
Having missed the previous Shield match due to concussion symptoms, Pucovski’s return underscores the cautious approach adopted by selectors, ensuring his well-being remains a top priority. Following opener David Warner’s recent Test retirement, the century was a timely reminder of Pucovski’s class in just his 35th first-class match since debuting in 2017. Will Pucovski too is optimistic about getting his chance in Australian National team and speaks openly about it.
Hopefully I can start to repay that faith that a lot of people have had in me- Will Pucovski
Will Pucovski made a fantastic comeback to the Sheffield Shield for Victoria as he smashed a fine hundred against New South Wales in Sydney on Saturday, February 20. The 26-year-old scored 131 runs off 302 balls and put his team in the driver’s seat to win the match. New South Wales managed to save the game by the skin of their teeth as bad light and rain meant that the visitors couldn’t clinch the game despite having the hosts at 116/8. Nevertheless, they will be delighted with the way Pucovski performed on his comeback.
Here’s what Will Pucovski told SEN radio on his hundred and how he has had to deal with his mental health issues:
“Given where I know I’ve been, to get that first hundred back, in a way, I look at it as a bit of a second chance at a career, which I’ve been very lucky to have because of the support I’ve had from my state and my teammates, and everyone that’s been around me,”
He added:
“Hopefully I can start to repay that faith that a lot of people have had in me when it probably would have been easier to give up, and I was pretty close to giving up on myself at some stages,”
Pucovski has also played a Test match for Australia, but his history of concussion injuries, as many as eleven of them, has massively hindered his career so far.
Will Pucovski on recovering from his latest concussion
Will Pucovski was set to make his Sheffield Shield comeback for Victoria earlier, but that was delayed as he got hit on his helmet during a Second XI game against South Australia on January 21.
While he had to go through a two-week recovery, Pucovski claimed that it was just a normal concussion and didn’t have any complications like his previous ones. On this, he stated:
“Probably just technically got it wrong on that one particular ball … got hit, and had a pretty normal concussion response, which, in a way, it was actually a pretty big positive. To be honest, that was probably the first time I’d been hit and I didn’t feel overly stressed by it. I just thought, OK, it is what it is.”
Will Pucovski had recently claimed on the Cricket Victoria Podcast that he would open up on his mental health issues when the time was right. He would be hopeful that the difficult days are behind him and that he would be able to play Test cricket for Australia again.