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Will Pucovski subbed out of Sheffield Shield clash with another concussion

February 12, 2022

He briefly came into the field at the start of the final day before leaving the ground

Will Pucovski‘s immediate and perhaps long-term future is in doubt after he was subbed out of Victoria’s Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia on the final morning after suffering another concussion.

Pucovski, who was making his comeback having had a previous concussion before the Sheffield Shield season began, briefly came onto the field at the start of the day but soon left and did not open the batting. He was later replaced in the side by Travis Dean.

“Pucovski reported concussion symptoms to medical staff while fielding in the first session of play this morning,” a Cricket Victoria statement said. “He will continue to be monitored by Cricket Victoria medical staff.”

There are reports that he suffered the latest blow in training before the final day’s play. He had made a fifty on the second day of this match in a century opening stand with Marcus Harris.

It is the 11th concussion Pucovski has suffered in a career that has been beset by setbacks. He made his Test debut against India last January where he scored a half-century before injuring his shoulder which then required surgery.

The Test debut itself was delayed after he was struck in the head by India’s Kartik Tyagi while batting for Australia A prior to the start of the series.

Pucovski suffered his first concussion when playing Australian Rules Football at school. Then on his first-class debut in 2017 he was hit on the head in the field and could not bat in the second innings. He has also had to manage his mental health which included withdrawing from the Test squad to face Sri Lanka in 2019 and taking a break from the game the following season.

Last month, Pucovski spoke of his latest recovery which had come after a blow at training in October.

“It probably took five or six weeks before I got back on track,” he said. “The first couple of weeks were pretty hard, I was trying to go for walks and feeling pretty sick even walking around the block. It wasn’t ideal, and they’re probably the times where you’re really struggling.

“You definitely do have days, especially post-injury, where you’re thinking how much of a nightmare it is and how much it sucks and how bad you feel. But I think that’s just a normal part of life, everyone would go through those days.

“There’s always been a plan, which always helps me, and as you do start taking those steps towards recovery, those times become less and less, and you get super excited about being back.”