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Warne: Time to give Will Pucovski a baggy green

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24th October, 2019
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The time is right for Will Pucovski to be given his Test debut with the 21-year-old seen as the ideal player for the future according to Australia’s former greats.

Called into Australia’s squad last summer but going without a game, Pucovski is considered one of the front-runners for Australia’s No.6 spot.

A century-maker in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield, Pucovski has hit 189 runs at 63 to start the season and will have two more games before the first Test against Pakistan.

But Shane Warne said he had seen enough to know that Pucovski had to be in the team at the Gabba on November 21.

“I would be picking Pucovski,” Warne said at the Fox Cricket launch.

“I think it’s time we had a good young player in there. A bit like the old Australian way.

“We used to pick the best young player going around, he deserves his selection. Put him in at No.6 and he can work his way up.”

A member of the squad last summer, Pucovski removed himself from the Australian group to manage his wellbeing.

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Since then he has spent time with a mindfulness coach, and worked hard on routines both before matches and between balls while batting.

It paid dividends during the winter, as he averaged 67 on Australia A’s tour of England before returning to form for Victoria.

A leading contender for a Test spot, Pucovski has put his hand up at a time where Travis Head is out of form and Mitch Marsh has broken his hand punching a dressing-room wall.

“I think he is a good chance, no doubt about it,” former selector Mark Waugh said of Pucovski.

“He was identified last year as one of the younger players who is good enough to play for Australia.

“I think the next few Shield matches will be crucial to that batting line up. He is definitely in the frame, there is no doubt about that.”

© AAP

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