Will Pucovski retires hurt after being hit on the helmet against India A at Drummoyne Oval

Australia’s Test plans for Adelaide are in chaos after leading opening candidate Will Pucovski was felled by bouncer against India A.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 08: Will Pucovski of Australia A bats during day three of the International Tour match between Australia A and India A at Drummoyne Oval on December 08, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Australia’s Test preparations have been rocked by another disturbing concussion to promising batsman Will Pucovski just eight days out from the opener’s likely Test debut.

Pucovski was floored by a bouncer late on day three of Australia A’s tour match with the Indians, adding to concerns about his long history of concussion – Tuesday’s being the ninth of his short career.

Given the short turnaround before the first Test in Adelaide, Pucovski now joins potential opening partner David Warner (groin) in extreme doubt for the Test.

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Will Pucovski is hit on the head by a delivery from Kartik Tyagi.

The 22-year-old, long regarded as one of Australia’s most promising batsmen, retired hurt on 23 when he was struck on the helmet by a bouncer delivered by fringe Indian seamer Kartik Tyagi in the shadows of stumps.

The blow left a mark just above the badge of the batsman’s helped as he misjudged a short ball and was left in an awkward position trying to carry out a pull shot.

Pucovski was immediately dazed and stayed down on his hands and feet for around 90 seconds as batting partner Marcus Harris and members of the Indian team showed their concern before he was attended to by team doctor John Orchard.

Encouragingly, Pucovski was able to make his way from the field unassisted – though looked unsteady on his feet as he reached the grandstand for further assessment.

“Will experienced mild concussion symptoms but was able to leave the field unassisted,” Orchard said.

Players from both sides rush to Pucovski’s aid.

The 22-year-old is helped off the field.

“He was monitored in our medical room and was communicating freely with staff and teammates as well as family over the phone.

“We will continue to monitor Will over the coming days and provide an update on his condition in due course.”

Pucovski will remain with the Australia A squad but has been ruled out of the three-day tour match to be played against India at the SCG, starting on Friday.

At last year’s Ashes, Steve Smith was concussed by a Jofra Archer bouncer during the second Test at Lord’s – only to be ruled out of the following Test at Headingley less than a week later.

There are eight days before the first Test, but selectors are likely to treat Pucovski’s case with caution given his extensive history with head injuries – and may now need to look at adding to Australia’s 17-man Test squad.

Pucovski scratched out 23 before going off injured.

Harris, who played the last of his nine Tests in last year’s Ashes, looms as the likeliest option, but the injury crisis possibly opening the door for veterans Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh.

Pucovski has previously linked concussions to his mental health battles, and last year withdrew himself from Test selection to focus on his mental health.

“A lot of medical advice has been suggesting that (concussion) can play a part in some other areas of your life. Obviously getting hit in the head a lot isn’t ideal from a physical or mental perspective,” Pucovski said last month.

“It always helps to add reason to something or understand something a little bit better.

“It was (about) understanding how the brain works and how multiple concussions can affect you. But I feel like I’ve bounced back from concussions really well in the past.”

Great to see Will Pucovski smiling and chatting with James Pattinson as he leaves Drummoyne Oval. #AUSAvIND pic.twitter.com/do8FlEWyvX

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) December 8, 2020

Pucovski has just been hit in the head by a short one from Tyagi. Is down and in the hands of trainers. Has a history of concussion. Very concerning. Hope he is ok. #AUSAvIND

— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) December 8, 2020

I hope not. Dawn of a golden era in Aussie cricket. Cummins captain. Pucovski will come good. Smith & Warner elder statesmen. Need another young quick.

— Fat Man (@FatMan82935889) December 8, 2020

Big risk taking in two new openers but not sure you can pick Joe Burns based on current form #AUSvIND

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) December 8, 2020

Australia is already in the midst of a top-order injury nightmare, with Warner almost certain to be sidelined for the start of the Test series with a groin injury, while there’s also uncertainty around the availability of pacemen Mitchell Starc (personal leave) and Josh Hazlewood (back complaint).

The tour match at Drummoyne was intended to be a chance for Pucovski to cement his Test credentials, but after scoring one in the first innings the Victorian had scratched out an unconvincing 23 before suffering the unfortunate blow to the helmet.

Burns’ Test career on ropes after latest failure

Joe Burns’ Test career is hanging by a thread after being bowled for a three-ball duck in the tour match bat-off left Australian selectors wondering where to turn for the first Test against India next week.

Even with injuries to potential opening partners David Warner (groin) and Will Pucovski (concussion), Burns cannot avoid the glare of the spotlight after twin failures in the Drummoyne Oval ‘bat-off’ left him firmly in the firing line ahead of the Adelaide Test.

As the incumbent, Burns was thought to have the inside running to hold onto his spot but selectors’ patience is surely being tested after a seventh score under 30 this summer.

Joe Burns chops on in the second innings. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty

Luckily, Burns is expected to get another chance when Cricket Australia announces its Australia A squad for the final tour match against a Test-quality Indian attack a three-day day-night fixture at the SCG starting on Friday.

The concerning concussion to Pucovski is likely to result in an opening pairing of Burns and Marcus Harris for Australia A – while, given the uncertainty surrounding the top order, adding veterans such as Usman Khawaja or Shaun Marsh to the Test squad remains a possibility.

Pucovski was twice given a life late on Tuesday - first when dropped in the slips by Privthi Shaw on 1 and then surviving a very strong LBW shout not long after before retiring hurt on 23.

The late drama came on a day where rising star Cameron Green solidified his Test bolter claims with a classy two-wicket haul to go with an unbeaten century against the Indians which, along with a five-wicket haul from Queensland quick Mark Steketee, briefly looked like it might nudge Australia A towards an unlikely victory.

The match officially petered out into a draw with Harris reaching stumps alongside captain Travis Head with Australia 1-52 chasing 131 from 15 overs in an unlikely victory before the captains shook hands on a draw.

Joe Burns summer:
7,29,0,10,11,4,0. 61 runs at 8.7

Pucovski :
255*,202,38,1,18* (still going) -514 runs at 171.3

And Cam Green:
56,11*,197,7,36,56,21 and 125*- 509 runs at 84.8

— ★ (@Charan_Zero9) December 8, 2020

This will be a good test of the "we will pick the players that are making runs" philosophy.

By that logic you have to go Harris and Pucovski

— Tim Veletta (@TimVeletta) December 8, 2020

Good luck to him.
Good on Langer, Warner et al for sticking up for a teammate.
But surely they can’t pick Joe Burns for First Test. Hopelessly out of nick. That’s all for now. #AUSAvINDA #AUSvsIND

— Brett Keeble (@BrettKeeble) December 8, 2020

The tour match had been billed as a bat-off to decide who would be Australia’s openers for the Adelaide Test – but that challenge was not taken up by any of the candidates.

Harris had the potential to leapfrog his way into a Test recall but failed to drive home his message in the first innings when blowing a strong start to fall for 33, before a streaky 25 late on day three.

Prior to the Warner injury, Australia had originally planned for the loser of the Drummoyne bat-off to feature in the SCG tour match – and the winner to be flown to Adelaide with the Test squad.

Instead, in a sign of the uncertainty around the top-order spots without Warner, all three were expected get another chance to prove themselves – before Pucovski’s concussion ruled him out of the tour game.

Green will also likely be on show at the SCG as he mounts an irresistible case for Test selection, after another starring role on Tuesday – this time with the ball.

Having closed his innings on 125 not out, his fifth century from just 20 first-class matches, at the start of the day, Green proved his all-round quality with a sharp four-over spell that claimed the wickets of openers Privthi Shaw (19) and Shubman Gill (29).

Standing desperately close to two metres tall, Green bowled with pace and made the most of a tricky wicket to cement his claims for higher honours.

Meanwhile, Steketee had a day out in the sunshine on Tuesday, picking up his second career five-wicket haul as he ripped through the Indians’ middle and lower order to finish with a well deserved 5-37.

The 26-year-old briefly put Australia A on the path to victory when he took five straight wickets, starting with captain Ajinkya Rahane trapped LBW for 28, to reduce the tourists to 9-143 before Wriddhiman Saha and Kartik Tyagi’s unbeaten 46-run 10th wicket stand.

Originally published as Will Pucovski retires hurt after being hit on the helmet against India A at Drummoyne Oval