Australia’s squad to play two Test matches against Sri Lanka is set to be named this afternoon, but if reports are to be believed, Victorian youngster Will Pucovski is in line for a shock call-up.
Fairfax Media’s Chris Barrett and Andrew Wu are reporting Pucovski will be named in the squad, while all three of Aaron Finch and Mitchell and Shaun Marsh will be dropped.
Pucovski has only played the one Sheffield Shield game after taking some time away from the game to deal with mental health issues, however, the 20-year-old is rated as one of the brightest young prospects in the Australian game.
Since making his Sheffield Shield debut in February 2017 when he was just 17 (he turned 18 on Day 2 of the game), Pucovski has averaged almost 50 across his eight first-class games, but it’s this season the Victorian has really made a name for himself.
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He racked up 243 runs at the WACA against Victoria in his last game before taking time off, then returned with a solid 67 against Western Australia in December.
Before his breakout performance this summer, he scored 188 against Queensland at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2017-18 and also had a double-century in the Futures League just before that.
The selectors blooding the 20-year-old is a risk, but it’s one they may be willing to take after Australia were handed their first ever home series defeat to India, one in which the hosts were flattered by the 2-1 scoreline.
The upcoming matches against Sri Lanka are Australia’s last two Tests before the Ashes in England later this year.
The batting efforts in that series were poor, with no centuries scored and Australia forced to follow on at home for the first time in 30 years during the fourth Test at the SCG.
In addition to Pucovski, reports are circulating that Queenslanders Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns will both earn Test recalls later this afternoon, while Peter Handscomb is in danger of being dropped for the second time in three matches.
The squad for the two Tests against Sri Lanka, to be played at the Gabba and Canberra’s Manuka Oval, will be announced at 3:30pm today.
Smuttsy11
Roar Rookie
Maxwell should pack up his kit bag and go around the world to play T20 and make a fortune. An amazing talent who will be lost to Australian Cricket due to agendas held by the selectors. What a farce. Well done to Pucovski, hopefully he is given a better run at it in the middle order than Cal Ferguson.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
From one extreme to the other... Didn't Langer say something recently about requiring players to prove themselves worthy of selection?
Smuttsy11
Guest
Maxwell should pack up his kit bag and go around the world to play T20 and make a fortune. An amazing talent who will be lost to Australian Cricket due to agendas held by the selectors. What a farce. Well done to Pucovski, hopefully he is given a better run at it in the middle order than Cal Ferguson.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Burns Harris Khawaja Labuschagne Head ? Paine Cummins Starc Lyon Hazelwood That's Lalor's side - I reckon Stoinis gets the traditional great current BBL form nod for the question mark Honestly I wouldn't be entirely unhappy with that side. So long as Burns gets another go I don't really care who else they pick. but he is long overdue for another crack.
George
Guest
The selectors are too thick to worry about trifling matters like mental health. So wouldn't surprise me. No Marshes would be a belated good move.
George
Guest
Quite.
bazza200
Guest
I'd back him in. I think in a year or 2 we will also have some of those young guns from NSW who are starting to do well. I think we not far away from another good player. 20 isn't too young.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
If they pick Stoinis it will be the most unjustifiable, addle-brained selection of all time, based on the completely unfounded assumption that picking an all rounder who is not in the top 6 as a batsman but can bowl a bit, but not particularly well, gives you a better chance than picking your top 6 batsmen and having one of them roll his arm over if you really need a few overs from someone other than the top four. Even more so in England, where temperatures and conditions are more conducive to the quicks.
shirtpants
Roar Guru
Absolutely wouldnt go with Pucovski until hes had a full shield season and piled on runs, but more importantly until his mental health is well and truly up to it. Not sure how a few failures will sit with him.
rock
Roar Rookie
Peter Lalor suggests Burns is back in and Stoinis & Renshaw in the squad as well. Likely team
Ben
Roar Rookie
But he has has concussion a few times and would be more vulnerable.
Nick
Roar Guru
Add Matt Renshaw and Phil Hughes to the list of people that were too young and had their confidence shot.
Nick
Roar Guru
This pace attack really struggles with bowling bouncers to be honest...
Graham
Guest
Its ok as long as we don't expect a miracle He has 12 games to get his test average over 35 imo.
AREH
Roar Guru
He's got some form, albeit months ago now, and bats for long periods. But still not sure I like it, are they rushing him a little? A full Shield season of dominance would prepare him better
Tazewep
Roar Rookie
Seems desperate move by selectors. Dont mind dropping Marsh x 2 and Finch but picking a kid too early could destroy him. Pukovski is young and needs time to develop. There are guys playing shield with acceptable records (Burns, Maxwell etc). Why not pick them?
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Make him captain as well, to save mucking about later.
rock
Roar Rookie
I need to get me what the selectors are smoking! Sure a bright prospect, but after only 7 first class matches and a recent mental health break, gee whiz this is a new level of insanity.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Even if he goes out and has a Nic Maddison type test debut it's probably still the same amount of runs as we would have got from Smarsh. let's assume that they have talked it through
Cricket Fan
Guest
Not the worst call but there are 2 main concerns: (i) he has just 8 first class games under his belt, and has scored only 2 100's. Perhaps we could have given him some time (ii) given recent mental health issues and time off, will he be in form to step into test cricket?