Will Pucovski named to play Premier Cricket for Melbourne

Will Pucovski is set to make his awaited return to the cricket field this weekend after he was named for his local club.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 19: Will Pucovski of Victoria warms up during the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Western Australia at CitiPower Centre, on October 19, 2022, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Victorian and Australian opener Will Pucovski will make his return to cricket this weekend.

The 24-year-old has been named for Melbourne ahead of its two-day Victorian Premier Cricket clash with Essendon.

Pucovski stepped away from cricket in October and left no timeline for his return.

Prior to his time away, the opening batter – who averages 48.97 in First Class cricket – went to India for a brief tour to adjust to subcontinent conditions, hinting he is well and truly still in Test selectors sights.

Cricket Victoria’s general manager of cricket Graham Manou expressed how proud he is of Pucovski ahead of this return.

“It’s fantastic to see him back wanting to play some cricket, it’s probably the first step of many,” he said.

“I think the thing for all of us, including Will, is to make sure we manage our expectations because it’s a continual process, the work that is going on behind the scenes with himself.

Excitement is building ahead of Pucovski’s return. Photo: Getty Images.

“In a pure cricket sense, it’s a great thing to see someone so talented back out there doing what he loves doing.

“I’m immensely proud (of Pucovski), I think the courage he or anyone shows to put themselves out there and be vulnerable is an extraordinary thing.

“I haven’t seen anyone work harder on themselves outside of the game of cricket in relation to their well-being and I am really pleased for him, I hope for him it’s the first of a long and continued time in the game.”

Pucovski played five games of Premier Cricket for Melbourne last season, scoring 219 runs at an average of 43.80 including two half-centuries.

Pucovski’s latest break from the game commenced in October, when he made himself unavailable for selection in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield or one-day side.

“Cricket Victoria will continue to provide all necessary support to Will and ask that his privacy be respected during this time,” a statement said at the time.

The talented opener’s comeback follows the return of Jono Merlo earlier this month.

Merlo played in St Kilda’s two-day game against Northcote last weekend having returned just days earlier in the Victorian Super Slam semi-final against Carlton.

The 24-year-old took a break away from the game due to personal reasons in late November.