Australian Cricketer who started his career with a strong debut against India, has retired from professional cricket at the age of 26 due to repeated head injuries. Pucovski had been seen as a bright future star for Australian cricket after an impressive start in first-class cricket.
Medical Advice and Decision to Retire
Pucovski has been open about how these injuries affected his mental health. After consulting with medical experts, he decided to retire from the sport. 9News Melbourne reported this update on August 29, 2024.
Career Highlights
Pucovski played just one Test match, against India in 2021, where he scored 62 runs. Despite showing promise, he struggled against off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and was eventually out to Navdeep Saini. He also suffered a shoulder injury during this match, which kept him out for six months.
He was initially selected for the national team in January 2019 but missed his debut against Sri Lanka due to Kurtis Patterson being chosen instead. In March 2024, Pucovski was concussed again when Riley Meredith hit him on the helmet during a Sheffield Shield game. This injury ended his season and led him to miss a contract with Leicestershire for the English summer.
Statistics and Career Overview
Pucovski played 36 first-class matches for Victoria, scoring 2,350 runs at an average of 45.19, including seven centuries. He made his first-class debut in 2017 and was offered a spot with the Melbourne Stars in 2020/21, but never played T20 cricket.
He was picked for the Test squad after scoring two double centuries for Victoria, but a concussion while playing for Australia A against India halted his progress. Multiple concussions throughout his career led to significant mental health challenges, eventually forcing him to retire.
Recent News
- August 29, 2024: Will Pucovski announces retirement following advice from medical experts after struggling with head injuries.
- March 2024: Concussion during a Sheffield Shield match ends his season and affects his contract with Leicestershire.
Pucovski’s career, while promising, was significantly impacted by injuries, and his decision to retire marks the end of a career that could have been much more.
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