Will Pucovski is about to make cricket’s return after a stint in England, as the young man looks to put ELF’s horror streak of concussions and mental health issues behind him for the big summer
- Will Pucovski is aiming for a great summer of cricket
- The 25-year-old suffered a series of concussions
- He is seen as a generational talent in Australia
Will Pucovski will intensify his return to cricket after spending a spell in England during the British summer.
Pucovski, 25, has played one Test for Australia despite being widely regarded as a generational talent, with 11 concussions, mental health issues and injuries marring his burgeoning career.
The Melbourne batsman took a break from cricket last October for personal reasons, but spent the off-season in England, playing for Weybridge in the Surrey League.
According to News CorpPucovski will be in Melbourne next week where he is eyeing a return to first-class cricket ahead of a big summer.
Victoria will play Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield opener on October 4, which has been flagged as the next major step for Pucovski’s comeback.
Will Pucovski is about to return to first-class cricket after a string of setbacks
The young Aussie who is considered a generational talent has suffered 11 concussions
He played for the Australian Test team in January 2021 and with David Warner retiring this summer, Pucovski can make his case to replace the veteran opener.
His good friend and Victoria teammate Sam Harper stressed that some luck awaits Pucovski on his return.
“As his good friend, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that this summer can be a really smooth summer for him and that he can bang run after run in the middle, which is what he does best,” said Harper.
‘He is loved (England). It was good for him to get away and keep playing cricket. Obviously at the back after that period at Melbourne and playing club cricket. Hopefully that can push him to play that first Shield game.”
Pucovski has worked closely with mind coach Emma Murray and previously discussed the psychological nature of top-level play.
Pucovski spent the off-season in Britain playing cricket in the Surrey League
“You’re going to fail a lot in cricket, that happens,” Pucovski said in an interview about his work with Murray in 2019.
“But if I’m consistent in the way I go about it, I give myself the best chance of succeeding.
“It probably freed me up a bit. Whether I have failed or succeeded on a personal level, I will not only base on my result, but on the way in which I did it.’