Will Pucovski in major development amid fight for David Warner's spot in Test cricket
The injury-plagued batter was once regarded as a future Test superstar for Australia.
Aussie cricket star Will Pucovski will get another chance to stamp his claims for a Test recall this week when his Victoria side face Pakistan in a two-day tour match. The Pakistanis added the match to their schedule to give them some much needed time in the middle after suffering a horrendous second innings batting collapse to lose by 360-runs in the first Test against Australia, after being bowled out for 89 on day four.
"That was something extra we added into the schedule because it wasn't there earlier," Pakistan coach Mohammad Hafeez told reporters on Sunday. "We wanted to have more practice rather than only one practice game. That had first class status, so we couldn't give all the bowlers the chance to have a feel. But that's the reason we wanted to have that practice game so more of the guys could get a feel for a match scenario. We felt that would work well."
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Victoria's match against Pakistan will be played at Melbourne's Junction Oval on Friday and Saturday and offers Pucovski - as well as Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb - the opportunity to press their claims to succeed David Warner at Test level. The veteran opener has indicated he will retire from Test cricket after the series against Pakistan, with his final match set to come in front of his home fans at the SCG in January.
Pucovski's involvement in the two-day match against Pakistan will mark his first hit-out against international opposition since his Test debut almost three years ago. The classy top-order batter was touted as a future superstar of Test cricket after excelling at Sheffield Shield level earlier on in his career.
However, the 25-year-old's progress has been cruelly halted by a series of concussions and well documented mental health concerns. Pucovski has become somewhat of a forgotten man in Australian cricket but has been showing glimpses of the form that saw many experts predicting a big future for the batter at Test level for Australia.
Will Pucovski hoping to press claims for a Test recall
Pucovski is only averaging 21 in the Sheffield Shield for Victoria this season but managed a gritty 65 in his last knock before the competition went on hold because of Australia's Test series. Pucovski's second innings dig was the top score for the Vics on a tricky Adelaide Oval wicket as the visitors defeated South Australia by 23 runs.
Victoria's match against Pakistan is viewed as something of a bat-off between Pucovski and fellow Test hopefuls Harris and Handscomb - both of whom appear to be ahead of him in the pecking order. Victoria's side - led by Handscomb - is made up of players who are not currently contracted to Big Bash sides, making it even more crucial for them to impress.
Harris - who along with Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw are thought to be leading the race to become Warner's Test opening successor - gets any shot to impress selectors after failing to go on with a big start for the PM's XI against Pakistan before the first Test. Bancroft made 53 in the same match, while Renshaw was the standout among the three top-order batters after hitting a superb unbeaten 136.
That match was played on a slow wicket at Manuka Oval in Canberra that left Pakistan a little annoyed because it didn't offer adequate preparation for what they were set to face in Perth for the first Test. The match also ended prematurely because of a freak storm but Pakistan have been assured the two-day match against Victoria will offer similar conditions to those at the MCG for the Boxing Day Test.
“We have requested similar conditions to the Test match so that our players can take advantage of these conditions,” Hafeez said. "This game was not part of the tour but I wanted our players to have match-scenario style practice. We’re grateful to CA for accepting our request and providing this facility. We will try to learn from this in the most effective possible way.“
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