‘Heartbreaking’: Will Pucovski suffers another concussion scare in Sheffield Shield return

Will Pucovski just cant catch a break, with the batting prodigy suffering another concussion scare in his Sheffield Shield return.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 10: Will Pucovski of the Bushrangers celebrates making his half century during day two of the Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and Victoria at Adelaide Oval, on February 10, 2022, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Will Pucovski just can’t catch a break.

The Victorian batting prodigy has suffered yet another concussion scare during his long-awaited Sheffield Shield return against South Australia at Adelaide.

Pucovski, who was playing his first professional cricket match of the summer, reportedly suffered a head knock during a warm-up ahead of day four of the first-class fixture in the South Australian capital.

After fielding for a few minutes on Saturday morning, he returned to the sheds and was replaced in the Victorian starting XI by concussion substitute Travis Dean.

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“Pucovski reported concussion symptoms to medical staff while fielding in the first session of play this morning,” Cricket Victoria said in a statement.

“He will continue to be monitored by Cricket Victoria medical staff.”

Pucovski missed the recent Ashes series due to lingering concussion symptoms from a head knock he sustained in October last year.

The 24-year-old did not feature in the first half of the 2021/22 Sheffield Shield after what was reported to be the 10th concussion of his young career.

Saturday morning’s head knock brings that tally to 11.

Heartbreaking news for Pucovski, just so many concussions now in such a short career. Not sure what the solution is at this point but hope his health, both physical and mental, is OK https://t.co/OODtS3aifJ

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) February 12, 2022

It really is time Pucovski retires. There’s more to life than cricket. And better do it while still young (his BBL commentary stints suggest that he can be one hell of a cricket commentator and presenter) than to suffer more health problems and disappointments… https://t.co/kEojsxB3Vo

— Kevin Yam 任建峰 (@kevinkfyam) February 12, 2022

And the reaction has been swift as NewsCorp cricket reporter Peter Lalor penned a comment piece that the devastating writing is on the wall.

He wrote: “Will Pucovski, the best young batsman in the country, needs to retire from cricket.

“It’s awful, it’s frustrating, it breaks your heart to see a kid with so much potential leave it unfulfilled and have what he does best taken away from him, but it’s not tragic.

“Yet.”

Read Lalor's full piece at CODE Sports.

Pucovski made headlines last summer when he smacked consecutive double-centuries in the Sheffield Shield while opening the batting for Victoria.

The right-hander was rushed into Australia’s Test squad ahead of the home series against India, only for a concussion scare during a trial fixture against India A to rule him out of the opening two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Pucovski recovered and made his Test debut against India at the SCG in January 2021, scoring a half-century in the first innings of the New Year’s Test, but he suffered a right shoulder injury on day five of the drawn fixture and needed to undergo reconstructive surgery during the off-season.

He was set to make his long-awaited return in October last year, before concussion once again intervened.

Will Sutherland celebrates a wicket with teammate Will Pucovski. Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images

Pucovski scored a patient 54 in the first innings against South Australia on Thursday, combining with Marcus Harris for a 110-run partnership.

The long-haired opener currently averages 53.41 in first-class cricket, with six centuries and six fifties in 24 matches.

But injury and concussion have repeatedly frustrated the talented cricketer, who has not completed a professional cricket match unscathed since November 2020.

The innocuous nature of his concussions has raised concerns about Pucovski’s long-term health, with genuine speculation on whether the youngster should retire.

Last year, Derbyshire wicketkeeper Harvey Hosein retired from all forms of professional cricket at the age of 25 after suffering repeated concussions.