Will Pucovski Explained

Will Pucovski
Fullname:William Jan Pucovski
Birth Date:2 February 1998
Birth Place:Malvern, Victoria, Australia
Batting:Right-handed
Bowling:Right-arm off break
Role:Top-order batsman
Country:Australia
International:true
Onetest:true
Testdebutdate:7 January
Testdebutyear:2021
Testdebutagainst:India
Testcap:460
Club1:Victoria
Year1:2016/17–
Clubnumber1:10
Columns:3
Column1:Test
Matches1:1
Runs1:72
Bat Avg1:36.00
100S/50S1:0/1
Top Score1:62
Catches/Stumpings1:0/0
Column2:FC
Matches2:35
Runs2:2,328
Bat Avg2:45.64
100S/50S2:7/9
Top Score2:255
Catches/Stumpings2:15/–
Column3:LA
Matches3:14
Runs3:333
Bat Avg3:27.75
100S/50S3:1/2
Top Score3:137
Hidedeliveries:true
Catches/Stumpings3:6/–
Source:http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/772365.html Cricinfo
Date:19 February 2024

William Jan Pucovski (born 2 February 1998) is an Australian cricketer.[1] He made his List A debut for Cricket Australia XI against Pakistan during their tour of Australia on 10 January 2017.[2] He made his first-class debut for Victoria in the 2016–17 Sheffield Shield season on 1 February 2017.[3] Pucovski made his international debut for the Australia cricket team on 7 January 2021, in the third Test match of the series against India.[4]

Early life

Pucovski was born in Malvern, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. His father, Ján Pucovski, who emigrated to Australia as a child from Serbia, has Czechoslovakian roots.[5] Ján also played cricket, as a fast bowler, and was regarded as a "Caulfield legend".[6]

Pucovski completed school at Brighton Grammar School in 2015, and was captain of the school's First XI and a school prefect.[7] He was awarded the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year at the Allan Border Medal ceremony by Cricket Australia in 2019.[8]

Cricket career

In the 2016-17 Under 19 National Championships, Pucovski scored four consecutive hundreds on his way to being named Player of the Championship and totalling 650 runs from eight innings, breaking the long-standing runs record held by Queensland's Jerry Cassel (568) since 1993–94.[9]

In March 2018, he suffered a second concussion from bouncers in two years, the second of which was bowled by Sean Abbott. Pucovski was well enough to walk off the field unaided.[10] In October 2018, he became only the second player representing Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, after Dean Jones, to hit a double century against the Western Australia cricket team at the WACA.[11] Totalling 243 not out, Pucovski became just the ninth player in Sheffield Shield history to score a double-century before his 21st birthday.[12] However, later the same month, he announced he would be taking a break from cricket due to a mental health-related illness.[13] [14]

In January 2019, he was named in Australia's Test squad for the series against Sri Lanka.[15] After being named in the squad for the Test series, Pucovski said that it's every kid's dream to play for their country, and that getting that opportunity was "just amazing".[16] However, he was not selected to play in either match during the series, and was released from the squad at the start of the Canberra Test, allowing him to continue to work on his mental health.[17] [18]

Ahead of the 2019–20 Marsh One-Day Cup, Pucovski was named as one of the six cricketers to watch during the tournament.[19] In October 2020, in the third round of the 2020–21 Sheffield Shield season, Pucovski and Marcus Harris scored 486 runs for the first wicket in the match against South Australia, setting a new partnership record in the Sheffield Shield.[20] Pucovski finished his innings on 255 not out, his highest score in first-class cricket.[21] The following match, he scored 202 runs in the first innings, becoming the first batsman since Dene Hills in the 1997–98 season to score consecutive double-hundreds in the Sheffield Shield.[22]

In November 2020, Pucovski was named in Australia's Test squad for their series against India.[23] Pucovski suffered another concussion playing for Australia A in December 2020,[24] bringing the total to nine concussions before playing a single game for Australia.[25] [26] He made his Test debut for Australia on 7 January 2021, against India, scoring 62 in his maiden Test innings.[27] Pucovski had his baggy green cap presented to him by Andrew McDonald.[28] However, during his debut, Pucovski suffered an injury to his shoulder that required reconstruction surgery which ruled him out of playing for six months.[29] In February 2022, during the 2021–22 Sheffield Shield season, Pucovski suffered another concussion, the eleventh one of his career.[30] In October 2022, Pucovski announced that he would be taking an indefinite leave from cricket.[31]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Will Pucovski . 10 January 2017 . ESPN Cricinfo.
  2. Web site: Pakistan tour of Australia, Tour Match: Cricket Australia XI v Pakistanis at Brisbane, Jan 10, 2017 . 10 January 2017 . ESPN Cricinfo.
  3. Web site: Sheffield Shield, 16th Match: Victoria v New South Wales at Melbourne, Feb 1-4, 2017 . 1 February 2017 . ESPN Cricinfo.
  4. Web site: Pucovski debuts, Head dropped as Australia bat first . Cricket Australia . 7 January 2021.
  5. Web site: Will Pucovski is on the cusp of great things . ESPN Cricinfo . 10 January 2019.
  6. Web site: Australia fast-track batting prodigy Will Pucovski included in Test squad for Sri Lanka series . 10 January 2019 . Indian Express . 10 January 2019.
  7. Web site: William Pucovski . Brighton Grammar School . 9 November 2020.
  8. Web site: Australian Cricket Awards . Cricket Australia . 9 November 2020.
  9. Web site: Duxson . Nick . Pucovski named Player of the U19 Champs . Underage National Championships . 16 December 2016.
  10. News: Pucovski subbed out with fresh concussion. cricket.com.au. 5 March 2018.
  11. Web site: Young gun Pucovski doubles up at WACA. 17 October 2018. The West Australian. 17 October 2018.
  12. Web site: Pucovski joins Bradman in elite club. 9 November 2020. Cricket Australia.
  13. Web site: Young Victoria batsman Will Pucovski to take indefinite break from the game . ESPN Cricinfo . 26 October 2018.
  14. Web site: Who is Will Pucovski? . International Cricket Council . 9 January 2019.
  15. Web site: Will Pucovski earns Australia call-up as Marshes and Handscomb dropped . ESPN Cricinfo . 9 January 2019 . 9 January 2019.
  16. Web site: Will Pucovski digests whirlwind Test call-up . ESPN Cricinfo . 9 January 2019.
  17. Web site: Pucovski opts out of Australia squad to work on mental health issues . ESPN Cricinfo . 1 February 2019.
  18. News: Australia release Will Pucovski from squad for mental health reasons . BBC Sport . 1 February 2019.
  19. Web site: Six players to watch in the Marsh One-Day Cup . ESPN Cricinfo . 19 September 2019.
  20. Web site: Nervous moments as Vic pair rewrite records . Cricket Australia . 1 November 2020.
  21. Web site: Marcus Harris and Will Pucovski set new Sheffield Shield record with 486-run stand . ESPN Cricinfo . 1 November 2020.
  22. Web site: Will Pucovski focusing on his 'batting bubble', not potential Australia call-up . ESPN Cricinfo . 9 November 2020 . 9 November 2020.
  23. Web site: Pucovski, Green headline Test and Australia A squads . Cricket Australia . 12 November 2020.
  24. Web site: Australia Test hopeful Pucovski concussed by helmet blow. 3 January 2021. au.sports.yahoo.com. en-AU.
  25. Web site: 8 December 2020. Puc ruled out of Tour match. 3 January 2021. PerthNow. en.
  26. News: Australia v India: Will Pucovski's journey to 62 on Test debut . BBC Sport . 9 January 2021.
  27. Web site: 3rd Test, Sydney, Jan 7 - Jan 11 2021, India tour of Australia . ESPN Cricinfo . 7 January 2021.
  28. Web site: Why Pucovski's family missed batsman's cap presentation . The Sydney Morning Herald . 7 January 2021 . 7 January 2021.
  29. Web site: Will Pucovski to have shoulder reconstruction and will miss six months . ESPN Cricinfo . 18 February 2021.
  30. Web site: Will Pucovski subbed out of Shield clash with another concussion . ESPN Cricinfo . 12 February 2022.
  31. News: Australian rising star Will Pucovski to take another period of indefinite leave, Cricket Victoria confirms . ABC News . 27 October 2022 . 27 December 2022.