Will Pucovski is set to miss the first Ashes Test after being ruled out of Victoria’s next Sheffield Shield game, his state coach Chris Rogers says.
Any return to cricket for Pucovski, who is recovering from the 10th concussion of his career, remains uncertain.
Rogers says the best case scenario is for the 23-year-old to be available midway through the five-Test series against England which starts on December 8 in Brisbane.
Rogers consulted Australia’s selectors in deciding to rule Pucovski out of Victoria’s Shield game against NSW, starting on Friday.
“It’s no doubt a setback,” Rogers told reporters on Wednesday.
“I’d say now it’s unlikely he will play in the first Test.
“He hasn’t quite recovered as well as hoped to play in this (Shield) game from the concussion.
“So in discussions with the medical team and the national selectors, it was felt we give him a bit more time before we select him to play for Victoria.”
Australian and Victorian hierarchy have taken a long-term view with the precocious talent who played his sole Test last January against India.
“No doubt there’s a lot of frustration for him, he wants to be playing,” Rogers said.
“He hasn’t played for seven months and to walk straight back into the cauldron and have to perform against very good opposition, that is going to be really difficult.
“And that would have been playing on his mind also.
“The decision is to look after him and allow him a bit more time to prepare in the right way rather than rush him into matches that are going to have a lot of intensity and a lot of scrutiny for him.
“Of course he wants to play for Australia for a long time to come.
“There’s a strong desire to get him into that Australian side because he’s such a talented player and a lot of people recognise it.
“But he hasn’t played for seven months so we have got to be mindful of the fact that we want him to, and no doubt he does as well, have a long career.
“So there has got to be some thought around what is in his best interests and how that plays out.”
Rogers said Pucovski was also unlikely to be available for Australia’s slated Test ‘probables versus possibles’ fixture on the Gold Coast ahead of the Ashes opener.
“Those players who are hoping to play in that game would have to go into quarantine post this Sheffield Shield round, so I daresay that is probably a little bit off the table for Will as well,” he said.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Two of those concussions came from fielding, one from a collision running between the wickets, 3 from edges off the bat, and two from junior footy. I wouldn't blame the bowlers.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Harris over Street? That's a no-brainer, Rellum.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Your anti-Warner stuff is cliched and adds nothing to cricket conversation. If you believe there will be no new openers in form in the next 5 years and, therefore, Warner will still be playing, I'd say you don't get how cricket works. I get that you don't like Warner. That however has nothing to do with his cricket ability. His ability is proven consistently. That's how he has the numbers he has. If he loses that form, he'll be replaced. That's how it has always worked.
Frank delosa
Guest
Donny, Very true re: the young openers and I like the thought of getting a new fish in the pond but the selectors will never look beyond the "Warner factor" even though he has had his day. He will be trundled out post age 40 with yet another partner who they pick and discard after a few measly tests. Sadly ENG 3-1 1st - ENG (Fortresss GABBA is breached forever) 2nd - ENG 3rd - Draw 4th - ENG 5th - AUS
Clear as mud
Guest
that's what I said. he has to dclare his willingness to open, for Qld, and Australia even when they don't pick him, the message is clear and he comes back into contention
Tom
Good thing he's been batting at 5 then :silly:
Kalva
Roar Rookie
6 wickets and 46!
Kalva
Roar Rookie
Really time to stop this nonsense….tell him to go and relax and only come back when he feels he’s ready….then gently ease him into the lower levels of cricket and gradually promote him…shouldn’t be expecting to play top level cricket for at least 2-3 years, if that.
Mountie
Roar Rookie
Its a sad indictment on the game that players with multiple concussions get forced out of the game by bowlers targeting their head. Are we not learning anything from what is becoming increasingly apparent about the long term effects of head injuries in sport? Any bowling above the shoulder should be no balled.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Warne is pushing for the Vic to be picked over the QLD player. Its all politics with Warne, like it is with nearly everyone else
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Pull the pin Will! The rest of your life awaits you.
Steve
Guest
cant believe he's still out from being hit from throwdowns, he's too much of a liability, bowlers will target him with short stuff not only to get his wicket but to hit him in the head, which will put him out of the whole series, next.....
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Stacks of openers scoring runs. Harris, Weatherald, Hunt, Bancroft, Whiteman, Burns. No issues there.
Damo
Guest
Renshaw needs to stop hiding at 4 - that spots taken!
Frank delosa
Guest
Wow what a shock - said no one, ever. Move on selectors, move on. Find a new opener. As big a shock as Stokes joining the Ashes, all a huge media ploy along with his supposed mental health break that conveniently magically resolved itself just before the Ashes. Wow love a Cummins zinger to hit him right in the twig and berries, to stop another Stokes in the future. The lack of depth in openers in cringy and they should have never dropped Renshaw. Warner doesn't like him so they move him on, what a load of rot! Does that mean they should should move reading, maths and general education on too? Tim Ward is 1 more century away from Warnie screaming for his inclusion in the test side....and you know what..compared to Warner's form of late he would be a welcome inclusion.
Clear as mud
Guest
pffffft - Mick Malone by the length of one of his drop punts
Clear as mud
Guest
Very sombre moment what comes next...? in terms of cricket - come on Renshaw, put your hand up. Make them reject you.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I think he's going to sit alongside Stuart Law as our most famous 1 test player.