Australia v India SCG Test: Golden Boys, Will Pucovski dominate India on day one

There were fears Will Pucovski may never play Test cricket for Australia - he just may have cemented his place in the Test team for a decade. Re-live our live blog.

Australia's malfunctioning batting line-up might have found their man of the future, as Will Pucovski declared his golden Test debut in Sydney meant “everything.”

Pucovski revealed his desire to finally claim his baggy green this week after three previous false starts crystalised after hearing from a neurosurgeon that his life after cricket isn’t likely to be affected, even if he was to be hit in the head again.

The 22-year-old admitted the past month have been like a “rollercoaster” ride after the ninth concussion of his short career ended his hopes of debuting in the first Test.

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Two years ago, Pucovski was unsure whether he even wanted to continue playing the game following his turbulent setbacks with concussion and mental health. But on Thursday in front of a mask-wearing crowd of 8,692, Australia instantly realised that Pucovski was worth the wait.

For Pucovski, it was everything he always wanted and more.

Will Pucovski with his baggy green.

“It was a pretty incredible experience. It’s meant everything to me to be honest,” said Pucovski.

“I’ve been putting in a lot of hard yards on and off the field, hopeful that this day would come and it was a very special day.

“It’s been quite surreal. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, getting hit about a month ago.

“I’ve been to millions of different doctors it feels like, trying to get a bit of clarity and a bit of an answer as to what the go was going forward.

Take a bow, Will Pucovski! A maiden Test match 5️⃣0️⃣ for the Victorian #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/VJxqk3wxoW

— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) January 7, 2021

“It was one of those days where I was just absolutely loving it. It was probably my favourite day of cricket to date.”

Pucovski and last summer’s breakout star Marnus Labuschagne (67 not out) combined for Australia’s first century partnership of the series to prove that together, they’re the present and future of the batting engine room.

Last week’s batting calamities in Melbourne were soothed by a revamped Australian batting order that played with noticeably more intent and aggression than they did in the embarrassing Boxing Day Test loss to finish a rain-interrupted day one at the SCG solidly placed at 2-166.

Pucovski’s dream eventually ended on 62, but a star was born – free of some of the stresses that have gripped him in recent years after seeing a neurologist on Monday.

“When you get the information from doctors that things are actually going OK and there’s nothing too much to worry about long-term at this stage, it makes it a lot easier for you,” he said.

🚨 BIG MOMENT ALERT 🚨

Rishabh Pant sells the catch until video review reveals ball hit the ground and Will Pucovski stays. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/eT8B7QPcwr

— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) January 7, 2021

“It’s one of those things with your head you don’t want to risk it because you’ve got a long life after cricket and a long life after sport, you want to be fit and healthy for.

“I sought some different opinions on what was going on and I was pretty satisfied I’m in a pretty good place to continue even if I get hit again it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Labuschagne typified the slight upping of purpose from Australia’s batsmen, applauding Pucovski’s aggressive shots and instantly rediscovering his groove on a ground which must almost rank as his favourite in the world.

Steve Smith (31 not out) was hyperactive when he first came to the wicket as if his reflexes were supercharged and the batting superstar started to look more like himself.

Marnus Labuschagne looked back to his best

Pucovski was dropped twice in quick succession in a howling performance by fumbling wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant and India butchered a run-out chance as well. But if anyone deserved a bit of luck it was the Victorian who had three times previously been denied a Test debut in the most agonising of circumstances..

Pucovski was eventually trapped lbw, but Test great Ricky Ponting had seen enough to declare a generational talent had announced himself at his first opportunity.

“The thing I’ve been impressed with most about him has been his demeanour through the day. Nothing has really seemed to faze him. He has been really impressive,” said Ponting on Channel 7.

“Everyone has been excited about Pucovski, the name has been about for a couple of years.

“He could be a 10-12 year player for Australia at the top of the order, which would be awesome.”

Look who's finally finding his stride.

'I felt like I handled it pretty well'

- Joe Barton

Once a happy hooker, Will Pucovski has reclaimed the pull shot to shut down India’s bouncer battle and stamp out any short-ball fears he took into a long-awaited Test debut.

Pucovski has been described as the brightest batsman of a generation, a natural talent who could lock down a spot in the Test team for the next decade according to Australia’s leading run scorer Ricky Ponting.

But the pitfalls for Pucovski are well known. Against India one month ago he ducked into a short ball from Indian net bowler Kartik Tyagi in a tour match and suffered the ninth concussion of his career.

India promised to unleash plenty of chin music on Pucovski, and the Victorian star was ready and willing for the barrage.

Pucovski handled the short-pitch barrage pretty well.

“I’ve been bounced nonstop in all cricket I’ve played, just with the history of concussions. It’s just a bit of a part of it to be honest,” he said.

“I sort of knew India would come at me pretty hard with it.”

Determined to prod at the 23-year-old’s perceived weakness, India on Thursday waited just five deliveries before testing out the theory. The only problem was Jasprit Bumrah’s bouncer soared high over the youngster’s head.

Short deliveries were dotted throughout Pucovski’s innings, and he handled them with increasing confidence as he grew into his new life as a Test opener.

“I felt like I handled it pretty well at times and maybe just went out of my bubble at other times,” he said.

“A lot of it comes down to the excitement of your first game – just making sure you get that first one out of the way.”

And the impressive innings helped set the tone of handing Australia day-one honours, according to Ponting.

“There’s been a definite shift in the way the Australians have played, certainly in this last session,” Ponting said.

“On the back of a little bit of a momentum shift from Pucovski before the tea break, (Steve) Smith has come out and been ultra aggressive.

“This is much more like the Australian way to play. If the Australians were going to turn this series around, they had to get back and play the Australian way, which is to be aggressive, which is to put pressure back on the bowlers.”

Labuschagne and Pucovski put on 100 for the second wicket.

In the sixth over, Pucovski signaled his intent by attacking some Mohammed Siraj short stuff – even with a man lurking on the boundary waiting for him to fall into India’s trap.

A top-edge that evaded the fielder before bouncing over the boundary rope at fine leg was far from convincing, but showed Pucovski wasn’t going to back down.

He crushed back-to-back short balls off fellow debutant Navdeep Saini to the fence with a back foot cut and a pull shot from outside off stump – the latter which brought up his maiden half-century.

Pucovski offered a chance off a pull-gone-wrong – when a chance ballooned off his gloves only to be dropped by keeper Rishabh Pant.

It was perhaps the first indication that India’s short-ball plans could have an impact on the young star - but before and after that, short-pitched bowling raised few concerns.

Originally published as Australia v India SCG Test: Golden Boys, Will Pucovski dominate India on day one