Will Pucovski ends century drought in Shield comeback after horror run of concussions forced him to take mental health break

Will Pucovski has marked his Sheffield Shield comeback with a seventh first-class century – and the first in more than three years – after reaching triple figures against NSW at the SCG.

The 26-year-old took a quick single to reach the 258-ball milestone on Sunday, hitting just five boundaries in the patient knock against an attack featuring Test spinner Nathan Lyon.

It was his first Shield hundred since November 2020 for the man long touted as a future Test star.

Pucovski, who made his only Test appearance for Australia in January 2021, was back in the squad after recovering from an 11th concussion late last month.

Following the recent Test retirement of opener David Warner, it was a timely reminder of Pucovski’s class and poise in just his 35th first-class match since his debut in 2017.

He reached the milestone with 258 balls against NSW at the SCG on Sunday

He took time off from the game in 2022 for mental health reasons, but has played five Shield matches for second-placed Bushrangers this season.

Pucovski posted exactly 200 with Peter Handscomb (114), who was chasing quick runs in the final before lunch on day three.

With Pucovski unbeaten on 102, the visitors were 3-361 and in an impressive position after Nic Maddinson’s blazing 108, with five sixes, on Saturday.

The Blues, less than a point behind Western Australian in fourth place on the ladder, made 252 in their first innings behind Jack Edwards’ 99.

Last month. Pucovski announced his engagement to girlfriend Emma Stonier, despite his future father-in-law jokingly refusing his request.

He popped the question on New Year’s Eve, but has since revealed the process didn’t go as smoothly as he wanted.

Speaking on Channel 7, the Victorian talked about the good news and how it came about.

“It’s been an exciting week,” he told 7Cricket’s The Spin.

Will Pucovski announced his engagement to girlfriend Emma Stonier last month

“I didn’t do that (get down on one knee), it was more of a lunge. I’m not the most flexible, so it was hard to get all the way down. And it was on gravel, so I didn’t want a cut on my knee or anything like that. I kept it pretty simple.”

When asked if he had the approval of Stonier’s father, Pucovski revealed that it was not plain sailing.

“I got the old man’s approval (of the partner) – he’s a bit annoying,” Pucovski laughed.

‘I asked him on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day he comes to me and says, “I’ve thought about it and no, she can’t, she’s way too good for you.”

‘And I said, “I agree, but I’ll do it anyway. You said yes yesterday, that’s good enough for me!”

“But yeah, it was good to get it done. (We continued) a 45 minute walk to this spot that I had chosen and I was excited for the first 44 minutes, and then in the last minute I just absolutely lost it.

“I had a big speech planned and it all went out the window, and I thought, ‘Just get this over with and get it through.’