A middle order entry to the Test team is unlikely for boom batsman Will Pucovski this summer

While Justin Langer is keen to spruik the talents of Will Pucovski as a player who can ‘bat anywhere’, he will be considered for just one position in the Aussie Test order.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 11: William Pucovski of Victoria bats during day four of the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Western Australia at Karen Rolton Oval on November 11, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Australia coach Justin Langer says boom batsman Will Pucovski doesn’t have to make his Test debut as an opener, but he won’t be thrust into the middle order for the four-match series against India.

Despite a groundswell of support for Pucovski to play in the first Test in Adelaide, Langer has been strong in his backing for incumbent opener Joe Burns to partner David Warner.

Plenty of former Aussie captains, including Greg Chappell, Allan Border and Michael Clarke, have declared Pucovski, who made consecutive double-hundreds for Victoria, must be picked ahead of Burns who didn’t pass 30 in five Sheffield Shield innings.

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Will Pucovski won’t be considered for a middle order berth.

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An Australia A clash against India next month has been labelled a “bat-off” between Pucovski and Burns, and Langer said it would be “clear” what the first Test team would look like after that three-day match, which starts on December 6.

“We think very, very highly of Will. We picked him as a 19-year-old, we picked him as a 20-year-old, we’re now picking him as a 22-year-old. He has enormous talent … when the opportunity comes he’ll be ready to play Test cricket,” Langer said.

“I’m really confident by the time the first ball comes about in a few weeks time, there’s a couple of Australia A games before then, it will become really clear who the top six batters are.”

Langer said the Victorian batting dynamo’s run splurge opening for his state, for the first time after playing most of his career at number three, meant he could “bat anywhere” in the Test order, and he didn’t have to be locked in at the top.

But opening was his best path into the Test team for now.

“My view is … if you can bat in the top three in Shield cricket, you can bat anywhere in the order for Australia,” Langer said.

Joe Burns is favoured to hold on to his Test opening berth.

“That’s where someone like Will … it gives him the benefit to bat anywhere. He knows how to score hundreds. He sets himself up nicely wherever the opportunity comes up.

“(But) he won’t play in front of (incumbent batsmen) Matthew Wade or Travis Head.”

Langer said he knows he “can’t win” if he picks Burns or Pucovski.

“And I’m at peace with that,” Langer said.

“If we pick Will Pucovski and don’t pick Joe Burns, the Queenslanders will think we’re wrong and the Vics will think we’re right, half of Australia will think we’re wrong.

“He (Pucovski) is a gun player, the opportunity hopefully will come for him at some point.”