Ian Healy criticised for questioning Will Pucovski’s mental health issues

Former Test great Ian Healy has found himself in hot water after a throwaway line questioned the mental health issues involving Victoria’s batting prodigy Will Pucovski. WATCH NOW.

Former Test great Ian Healy has found himself in hot water after a throwaway line questioned the mental health issues involving Victoria’s batting prodigy Will Pucovski.

Healy was discussing Pucovski’s exit from the Australian team during the recent Sri Lankan Test series when he suggested he’d left team to attend his own 21st birthday party.

“There was a theory he was going home for his 21st birthday which happened to be that Saturday,” Healy said on Fox Sports during the opening day of the Sheffield Shield final.

Pucovski was released from the Australian side after day one of the second Test in Canberra, with a Cricket Australia statement saying he “will return home to Melbourne to continue managing his wellbeing”.

Will Pucovski of Victoria bats during day one of the Sheffield Shield Final

“He reported some challenges over the past few days and the decision has been made that the best thing for Will’s welfare is for him to return home to Melbourne,” the statement said.

Healy’s comments caused uproar on social media with cricket fans stunned that he would question the Pucovski’s struggles with mental illness which have been well documented since he burst onto the scene last year.

Ian Healy has come under fire for his comments during commentary

As for the birthday party - which was originally planned at the family home with invites sent out - it had already been postponed when it clashed with the second Test.

Healy had been asked by co-commentator, former Australian coach Darren Lehmann, about his thoughts on Pucovski not making his debut after being called up to the Australian team.

“He was a 50-50,” Healy said. “Canberra was a good time to pick him.

“Then he had to leave the Canberra Test and go home because he still wasn’t right so if they had of picked him it would have been really tough for him.”

Pucovski came in at No.3 for Victoria today at the Junction Oval and was dismissed for 17.

@Iheals idiotic call on Pucovski birthday.
Completely idiotic.#fool

— Kev B (@niveknannerb) March 28, 2019

I'm not sure I can believe what I just heard on the #ShieldFinal coverage from Ian Healy re Will Pucovski.

— Matthew Taylor (@MattyA_Taylor) March 28, 2019

PODCAST: Ball-tampering anniversary special with Geoff Lemon, author of ‘Steve Smith’s Men’, an award-listed account of the Newlands scandal and what it means for Australian cricket.

Listen below or search for ‘Cricket Unfiltered’ on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.