Pucovski ponders legal fight after being forced into early retirement at age 27, Test greats laud ‘one-Test wonder’ cricket prodigy

The once-promising cricket career of Will Pucovski is over at just 27 years of age, and some of Australia’s greats have praised the man who could have been one of the nation’s best.

WILL Pucovski’s cricket career is over but the financial fallout remains unresolved as he explores legal action over compensation from the game.

Concussion-plagued Pucovski, a talented young opener who played one Test, told SEN’s Gerard Whateley of his retirement, revealing he is in the midst of an endless and so far unsuccessful search for answers over the origin of his condition.

Will Pucovski is helped from the field by medical staff after being struck by a delivery from Riley Meredith. Picture: Getty Images

Pucovski in 2018. It was a career that promised so much. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Pucovski is taking legal advice from Peter Gordon, a well-known lawyer who is a former president of the Western Bulldogs, as he investigates his options after being advised by a panel of medical experts to retire.

It is a unique and highly sensitive situation and Pucovski has been in talks with Cricket Victoria over a suitable payout without a resolution.

Both parties are keen to avoid a legal showdown though it has not been ruled out if a resolution cannot be reached in a complex debate which spotlights the vexed issue of what is a fair payout to a player who could have been a long term star.

Former president of the Western Bulldogs’ Bulldog Peter Gordon is providing legal advice to Pucovski. Picture: Michael Klein

“There is an illustrious group of one Test veterans and unfortunately that is where my journey ends,‘’ Pucovski said.

Pucovski had more than a dozen concussions in his career and decided he could not continue after a heavy blow from Tasmanian fast man Riley Meredith in a Sheffield Shield match a year ago.

“I felt so bad immediately after being hit in a physical sense … the dread probably came a bit later.

“Riley is one of the fastest bowlers and it got me in a bad spot. I was struggling to get anything done. Even just walking around the house was a struggle.”

My fiancee wasn’t happy because I could not contribute to any of the chores. I was sleeping a lot.

“I have spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to find answers. I have seen a heap of experts, Why have I had all these problems over a long period? Is there a way to navigate this. I have met with a heap of different people but unfortunately it has got to the stage where I am still suffering and don’t really have the answers.

“Mental health is one part of it – that is related to the concussion stuff. I suffer from fatigue. One bizarre thing is I struggle with things on my left side. I am 27 and hopefully I have a good life ahead of me.”

A very young Will Pucovski batting for a Cricket Australia XI against Pakistan in 2017. Picture: Chris Hyde – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images/Getty Images

Pucovski was considered the best batting talent of his generation and his lament is accentuated because he would have been a comfortable fit in the Australian team following the retirement of David Warner and the looming exit of Usman Khawaja.

Pucovski’s Test coach Justin Langer told this masthead from India: “A fine young player and a fun-loving person, Will will be missed. I am happy and sad for him as mental health must be his number one priority.‘’

Former Test great Merv Hughes said Pucovski could have had an outstanding Test career.

Former Australia cricketer Merv Hughes had high hopes for Pucovski before tragedy struck. Picture: ECB/ECB via Getty Images

“I felt he could have played for a decade seeing how comfortable he was in the only Test he played and that would mean a 100 Test career,‘’ Hughes said.

“He looked very comfortable with shots all around the ground.‘’

Another Test great, Ian Healy said: “I feel sorry for him in that he did a lot of hard yards to discover nothing really. He went from optimism to despair. There were no clear cut answers for him. I sense concussion research is still young even for a young man.‘’

Pucovski played one Test for Australia. Picture: Getty Images

Pucovski, who gets married to fiancee Em on Friday, paid tribute to his wife-to-be.

“She sees all of the difficult times that a lot of people don’t. She has been a huge moral support and to be honest I have really needed it.’’

Pucovski said his next move would be to move into coaching with his club – the Melbourne Cricket Club – and that will help his transition from playing rather than having the anguish of watching the professional game “which you want but can’t have.’’

Pucovski said he had a tattoo of his Test number – 460 – in a promise he made when he was in primary school.

Originally published as Pucovski ponders legal fight after being forced into early retirement at age 27, Test greats laud ‘one-Test wonder’ cricket prodigy