Will Pucovski’s ‘highly promising’ cricket career comes to sad end
Promising Australian cricketer Will Pucovski has been forced into early retirement.
After repeat concussion injuries, a medical panel has told the 26-year-old his time in the game is over.
The ill-starred Pucovski’s future has been under a cloud for some time, and huge doubts were raised then he was struck in the head while batting for Victoria against Tasmania on March 3.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.That blow was one of his most concerning concussions, with the 26-year-old struck in the side of the head after ducking into a Riley Meredith delivery.
It was at least the 11th concussion of Pucovski’s stop-start career, and the right-hander was on all fours, dry-heaving for several minutes after the impact.
Pucovski has recently been travelling overseas and hasn’t been seen at training this pre-season.
The latest news doesn’t come as a surprise to many, but fans were disappointed that his promising career has now been cut short.
One fan said on X (formerly Twitter): “Remember when, at just 20 years old, Will Pucovski scored a remarkable 243 runs against Western Australia, after coming so close to a double century against Tasmania the season before, falling just short at 188 ... We all envisioned a bright Test career ahead of him. It’s heartbreaking to reflect that despite such promise, his journey was cut short by concussions... Sometimes, no matter how bright the future seems, life has other plans ...”
And another wrote: “A sad ending to Will Pucovski’s highly promising career He had taken repeated blows to the helmet over the years.”
Pucovski was one of the most talented young prodigies in Australia this century, but sadly his career has been regularly stopped by injuries and concussions.
He hit 62 on Test debut against India in January 2021, but was ruled out of the next match after suffering a shoulder injury in the field.
The Victorian has also taken time away from the game at different points for mental health reasons, and conceded earlier this year that they were likely linked to his concussions.
“I sort of link the mental health stuff back to my first concussion ... which was when I was about 15 or 16,” Pucovski said on the Vic State Cricket Podcast in February.
“I have a lot of concussion symptoms that over a seven- or eight-year period actually never subsided.”
- With AAP
Originally published on 7NEWS Sport
