On form alone, Will Pucovski would appear a near certainty to partner David Warner in the first Test against India on December 17.
Taking his Sheffield Shield run tally to an incredible 495 yesterday after just three knocks, the 22-year-old has Australian cricket brimming with a palpable mix of expectation and excitement.
A combination of Pucovski’s runs and ability to absorb an enormous number of deliveries are perhaps the most impressive aspect of his career to date.
Yet that ignores his entertainment value, too, which mixes sumptuous on-drives with clinical backfoot play on the offside, and Steve Smith-like proficiency off the hips.
Prior to a Test summer, Shield players are urged to make their names unavoidable at the selection table.
He has done exactly that, and given the woes of incumbent opener Joe Burns, it seemingly points to one thing: a Test debut in Adelaide.
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On the surface, there couldn’t be a clearer option.
And in any other time, his cap number would already be embroidered onto the baggy green.
But as a player who has gone through mental health difficulties in his short career, Cricket Australia’s medical staff and selectors will undoubtedly be weighing up whether it really is the right move in a summer where the mental strain on players could be greater than ever.
Inside bio-secure hubs, which players have reported is a draining experience, the coming months will likely demand more mentally from players than we’ve ever seen.
Those inside the IPL bubble were unequivocal in their assessment of the experience in recent months.
“You’re just counting days down,” Jofra Archer said.
“I think it is untenable,” Eoin Morgan added while Steve Smith, when asked if he would enter the BBL hub after the India series, said: “I’ll be honest with you – absolutely no chance.”
As such, the distinct difficulty of the hubs — where player movement is set to be restricted to the hotel and stadium — will likely be a factor in whether the Victorian is either selected this summer or in the near future.
This is not to speculate about Pucovski’s current health (something he has expressed frustration with in the past), but to say it will be a consideration before selection.
He has spoken honestly of the improvements he has made, especially since taking a break immediately after a breakout 243 for Victoria in 2018.
But he admitted there was a way to go.
“I look back to October 2018, and (now) in October 2020 and I go, ‘I’ve made so many strides in those two years, but I’ve got so far to go’,” he said on the Risk Equation podcast, recorded just prior to the commencement of the Shield season.
“It’s one of those things where I still want to keep improving and I want to play for Australia and do it for a long time, but I need to probably do more work than your average Joe to make sure that I’m mentally in a headspace where I can deal with that stuff.”
Pucovski compared the extra “head rehab”, as he termed it, as similar to the additional rehabilitation an athlete with troublesome hamstrings might have to do.
(Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Inside the hubs this summer, Australia and India players are set to face far stricter environments than the current one Shield players face in Adelaide, where players can leave and enjoy the surroundings.
After their recently-concluded summer, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s chief medical officer found that players and staff had a ceiling of just “three to four weeks” inside the restrictive bubbles.
“After that, you need time out,” Dr Nick Peirce said.
Cricket Australia and the players’ union (the Australian Cricketers’ Association) have certainly taken the issue seriously leading into the summer.
For a number of months, a joint team has met weekly (including the Australian men’s team psychologist Michael Lloyd) to discuss how players inside the WBBL, BBL and international hubs would deal with the unique circumstances.
CA has stressed it will make the right decision for each individual player, and given their track record in the space (they have recently appointed a mental health and wellbeing lead), their decision on Pucovski — and whether to give key Australian players a rest during the summer — will undoubtedly be the right one.
On a purely batting front, some have questioned the wisdom of picking Pucovski against a pace attack featuring two of the world’s best in Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.
The last time Australia picked an inexperienced Test opener against India was with Aaron Finch, who returned just 97 runs in six innings. But those in the know say he is far better equipped to deal with a world-class attack.
The question of his selection, then, isn’t about his skills.
Rather, it’s the unique pressures that this summer will create and the potential impact of that.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about Burns' form. He's just edging everything at the moment. It sounds like Langer wants him to play the first test though so I hope he scores some runs in some format before then, whether it's BBL or club cricket. Needs some confidence.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Only one way to find out hey ....
AREH
Roar Guru
Yeah even though clearly not his preference, Burns' game may better suit the middle order, like early in his career. I fear the top attacks at the highest level, as the tendency to be dismissed through the gate with the alarming bat/pad gap, seems far from assured. That said, other candidates and tried options - incl. Harris and Bancroft, have their own concerning deficiencies. Maybe we'll find Pucovski does too, after some exposure.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I’m one of those who doesn’t believe in waiting just for its own sake, so I endorse WP’s immediate selection. However, let’s not have too high expectations early on, as even with those that go on to become truly great players, the majority are not instant raging success stories at test level – some are obviously, but someone that has instant success is just as likely to crash and burn, Greg Blewett springs to mind. The thing is that even if WP fails in his initial stint in test cricket, he will be all the better a player for the experience and if and when he gets sent back to shield cricket he will be hungry for another go. There is a nothing to lose aspect of selecting him now as the so-called ‘incumbent’ is hopelessly out of form, so it’s not as if Burns atm will make more runs than a rookie who doesn’t achieve instant success in any case. Even if WP does achieve instant success, there will still be an inevitable form slump at some point down the line anyway. I like Burns and want him to succeed but he has one of those very hidden but extremely meaningful stats and it’s not a good one: in approximately half of his test innings to date he has not gotten past about 10 or 15 (not sure of the actual number but it’s no more than 15 I know that much). This is a problem because part of an opener’s job is to see off the opening attack and make them bowl a lot of overs before the first drop and middle order are exposed. Even during Mark Taylor’s infamous slump, he might have gone so many innings without a test 50, but in the first two tests of that 1996-97 series, both of which Australia won he scored 43, 36, 27 and 16. Not great scores by any means, but in 3 of those 4 innings he shared in a half century opening stand with his new partner Matthew Elliott and in the other – the first morning of the series – he shared in a century 2nd wicket stand first rookie first drop Ricky Ponting. If Burns were just doing something like that, it would give him some leverage at the selection table and if WP plays and does something like that in his first couple of tests then it can be considered as legitimate initial success.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
The myth that Smith is not a one day player or T20 player has long been debunked on the roar.
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
I certainly wish Pucovski every success, it's been a long time since we've seen a prospect emerging with the level of potential he is demonstrating. In any other year the discussion would have been about the recent encouraging form of Marcus Harris but Pucovski is overshadowing that. I'm meanwhile intrigued about the Australia A games ahead. There's a fair gap between Shield and test level and those tour matches and the performances in them may tell us more about the different capabilities of our up and comers.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I hate not picking players when they're in form. Inevitably, when a spot actually opens up, they're not playing as well, and cementing a spot becomes difficult. Now is the time. His confidence right now is high and he's speaking confidently of where he's at mentally. I get your point re the impact on the player that might be in place to replace him but anybody with an ounce of self-awareness is already conscious that their spot is gone to a better player in better form. If he says he's available, he should be picked
Simoc
Guest
I'm not so sure that WP is different to anyone else except that he is more aware of how external pressures affect him. Pretty much all humans have mental health issues but not to many are willing to admit it. Ask any doctor! I would just go with what he says. He's a gun and we need him to get experience against the best, like India, for the future.
Simoc
Guest
Smith draws x 10 + as many eyeballs playing IPL than he ever will playing BBL. BBL isn't big in the world now though it started out that way. And also he isn't suited to T20 though plays ok. Smith is at his best in test cricket.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Don’t overthink and over complicate things. He is obviously in a good space right now and in hot form. There is no better time to select him in the side.
Peter Bowman
Guest
Don’t over complicate and overthink things. He’s obviously in a good space right now and in hot form. This is exactly the right time to pick him.
Nick
Roar Guru
It's the asymptomatic cases that require proactive bubbles. If they had then in the pop they may be unknowingly exposed and unknowingly contagious.
ja ja klazo
Guest
Fair enough. But it's not just going to happen overnight. While there are no cases it doesn't make sense to me. If it starts creeping up then sure, put them in the bubble. The NRL ran their season without the players in the same level of bubbles and that was with the majority of players in Sydney who had a relatively large case load.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
I don't think we can be sure any of the players will last the full distance. There have been plenty of them speaking out about the difficulties of hub life. So my guess is that the support staff will outline exactly what is involved to him and he can make an informed decision.
Nick
Roar Guru
Because IF there is an outbreak, then the cricket can continue if they remain isolated in the bubbles. If they are in the gen pop, and an outbreak occurs, then the authorities will have no choice but to scrap the tour.
U
Roar Rookie
I’d go with Burns for the first couple of tests just because Warner likes having him there and see how Will P goes in the bubble first. He’s already pulled out of the squads twice so better to be safe than sorry
Cameron Warner
Roar Rookie
Hit the nail on the head
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I would have agreed at some point, but he's been picked twice and pulled out. I'd want to be sure he was going to see the distance before making another player feel like second fiddle - only getting a spot because Will pulled out. He says he's fine? Good, then make a ton of runs over the next season or two, demonstrate the mental strength to keep ploughing on without knowing when your chance will come - like many have beforehand. Test cricket is mentally challenging that's why so many are not rushed in.
ja ja klazo
Guest
Yea - I really don't understand this. Surely they can just go about their business like ordinary citizens. There is no test match in WA - so the border issue is not an issue.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Once Indian players get through quarantine, it’s not clear why players have to be in bio-secure bubbles, with state borders coming down.