- Pucovski announces engagement to girlfriend
- The partner’s father initially declined the request
- The prodigy said he did it anyway
Australian cricket star Will Pucovski has announced his engagement to girlfriend Emma Stonier, despite his future father-in-law jokingly rejecting his request.
Pucovski, who has played one Test for Australia, took to social media to announce the happy news, writing: ‘Good girl, locked up.’
The 25-year-old 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 has announced his engagement to girlfriend Emma Stonier
The Australian cricket star says popping the question didn’t go exactly as planned
“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 the spot I had chosen and I was excited for the first 44 minutes, and then in the last minute I just completely 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.’
Widely touted as one of the country’s top emerging talents, Pucovski has suffered a series of concussions that have forced him to take time off from playing cricket.
The 25-year-old made his debut for Australia in 2021, playing a Test against India
George Bailey, Australia’s chairman of selectors, says he is happy Pucovski is playing cricket again. He has said that Pucovski will not be considered for selection in the short term.
“No, there has been no communication,” he said.
“(I’m) just really happy to see him playing Shield cricket again and hopefully it stays that way.”
Bailey says he wants to see “continuity” in Pucovski’s game now that he’s playing regularly again.
“I saw Will’s comments at the last Shield game and based on that I think it’s five in a row he’s played now,” he said.
Fingers crossed that he can end the year. He says there is a real love for the game at the moment and he would like to play abroad in the winter which will be great for his game.
“Just that continuity of his cricket will do him good.”