Former Australian opener Will Pucovski will make his return to cricket this weekend, representing Melbourne in a Victorian Premier Cricket match against Essendon.
The 24-year-old has been named in Melbourne’s starting XI for the two-day fixture, which gets underway at Albert Ground on Saturday morning.
Pucovski, who played one Test for Australia in January 2021, stepped away from the sport for personal reasons in October last year, missing several Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup matches for Victoria.
Watch BBL12. Every game live and ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The talented right-hander, who currently averages 48.97 at first-class level, has regularly been touted as a future star of Australian cricket, but concussion and mental health setbacks have repeatedly plagued his professional career.
Pucovski took a six-week break from cricket during the 2018/19 home summer, requesting not to be considered for Test selection the following season “due to matters pertaining to mental wellbeing”.
He made his long-awaited Test debut against India in the 2021 New Year’s SCG Test, scoring 61 in the first innings before an untimely shoulder injury paved the way for Victorian teammate Marcus Harris to replace him in the starting XI.
Pucovski was then thwarted by concussion setbacks throughout the 2021/22 summer, keeping him on the sidelines for most of the season. The opening batter’s eleventh concussion scare came in bizarre circumstances, managing to kick a volleyball into his head during a Sheffield Shield warm-up.
Last year, Cricket Australia sent Pucovski to the MRF Academy in Chennai, joining an eight-man squad of emerging batters and spinners to refine their craft in the subcontinent’s unique conditions.
Victoria’s next Sheffield Shield match is against Queensland at the MCG on Thursday, February 9.
