Hopes were high for young Australian Will Pucovski ahead of the all-important Test series against India. Former Australian greats like Michael Clarke and Ian Chappell believed the 22-year-old was ready to shine on the international stage. With David Warner’s injury it was almost guaranteed that the right-handed hitter would play the first try. But fate had other plans.
During Australia A’s match against India A, Pucovski received a hit to the helmet and was taken off the field. Pucovski was hitting at 23 when he was hit in the helmet by the delivery of young Indian pacemaker Kartik Tyagi. He was hit in the front of his batting helmet as he fell to his knees and remained on the ground for a few minutes. He was immediately treated by the medical team. But Cricket Australia confirmed that he was able to walk after being treated by team doctor John Orchard.
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However, it is not yet decided whether Pucovski will make the first test in Sydney despite the fact that he remained with the squad that traveled to Adelaide. Things will not be easy for Pucovski as the Indian pacemakers would be hungry to stamp their authority on the test series. And former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has warned Pucovski that Indian bowlers will not ease the pressure on him.
“Sure. I think you would expect that to happen,” Gavaskar, who is in Australia as a commentator, told the Sydney Daily Telegraph on Friday.
“Once you get on the court, whether it’s playing for your country, or even playing for your state or club, you will.”
“If the word is that you are not really comfortable with a particular delivery, you are going to receive a lot,” he added. “I don’t see India improving because it has had a history of concussions.”
Gavaskar also said that Indian fast pitcher Mohammad Shami has one of the best gorillas in the game.
“He has as good a goalkeeper as anyone I have ever seen,” Gavaskar said.
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