The future of cricket prodigy Will Pucovski appears to be in doubt with the Victorian still to return from a concussion injury in March.
Pucovski has suffered 13 known concussions throughout his sporting career, including two in the first three months of 2024.
The Sporting News looks at the chances of Pucovski’s cricket career continuing at the highest levels.
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Will Will Pucovski retire from cricket?
Pucovski has not officially retired from cricket but it’s looking increasingly like he will be medically retired in the near future.
The 26-year-old would need medical clearance to return to the sport after his last concussion injury while playing for Victoria against Tasmania in March 2024.
However a report from Code Sports suggested Pucovski would be forced to quit the game because of the repeated head knocks, quoting unnamed Victorian players and officials.
In the same report, Cricket Victoria performance boss Graham Manou gave a diplomatic quote when asked for a public comment on Pucovski’s future.
The former South Australian cricketer said an “expert medical panel had met” on Pucovski’s case and they were “currently working through the findings”.
Pucovski played one Test for Australia against India in Sydney in 2021, making 62 in the first innings as an opener alongside David Warner.
Will Pucovski’s concussion history
- Hit in the head during football match (high school)
- At cricket training, struck by a ball from another batter (teenager)
- Banged his head on a doorknob at home (teenager)
- On first class debut for Victoria, hit on head in outfield (February 2017)
- Hit on helmet during one-day match against Queensland (October 2017)
- Again hit on helmet during Futures League game (November 2017)
- Struck while ducking bouncer in Sheffield Shield vs. NSW (March 2018)
- Fell on his head after bat got stuck in the turf (February 2020)
- Suffered a concussion for Australia A vs. India (November 2020)
- Struck on the head during throwdowns (October 2021)
- Hit by a volleyball during a warm-up (February 2022)
- Picked up another concussion while playing for Victoria second XI (January 2024)
- Hit by bouncer in Sheffield Shield game against Tasmania (March 2024)