‘Huge shame’: Will Pucovski suffers career blow after latest concussion

Things were looking up for Will Pucovski after an SCG century but his latest headknock has had significant repercussions.

Will Pucovski’s immediate playing future remains unclear after he pulled out of a planned UK country cricket stint to recover from his latest concussion.

Pucovski was set for an five-match deal, his first country cricket contract, with Leicestershire.

But both he and the county decided to end the agreement by mutual consent as the 26-year-old continues to recover from his latest concussion suffered in the Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania.

“It’s a huge shame to lose Will at this stage, but his health must come first,” Leicestershire director of cricket, Claude Henderson said.

“Given the proximity to the start of the English season, it has been agreed by all parties to allow him the necessary time to recover, and we want to wish Will all the best as he continues to recuperate in Australia.”

Pucovski, who played his one and only Test against India in 2021, is also off contract with Victoria leaving a big decision for officials given the continued interruptions to his career.

Will Pucovski of the Bushrangers leaves the field after being struck during the Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and Victoria on March 03, 2024. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Leicestershire announced Pucovski’s Victorian teammate, Marcus Harris, as his replacement.

After making an SCG century for Victoria, Pucovski looked on an upward trajectory having endured several concussions and mental health breaks from the game.

He even said he was more ready than he’d ever been to push for a return to the Test team.

But he was felled by a bouncer from Tasmanian fast bowler Riley Meredith in the second last match of the season, and put in concussion protocols.

Luckless Victorian Will Pucovski, again hit by a short ball. He's gone off, retired hurt. Awful to see. @9NewsMelbpic.twitter.com/sp1YtP5Owd

— Trent Kniese (@trent_kniese) March 3, 2024

That meat he missed his team’s final Shield game, which Victoria lost, and his next match remains unclear.

Speaking recently on the Vic State Cricket podcast, Pucovski admitted an early retirement had already been considered.

Will Pucovski has a long history of concussions. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

“Bloody close, very, very close (to giving it away),” he said.

“It’d gotten to the stage where I’d had discussions with people saying, ‘yeah, I think this is it’. I was sort of comfortable that I’d given it everything.

“I’d had a week to think about it and I hadn’t changed my mind and, to a degree, being happier in everyday life made me want to give it away more because I’m like, ‘I’ve got too much to lose now’.

“I had some discussions with psych(ologists) and they gave me these other solutions which have really done the job. It’s just been one of those things where I was pretty close but I’m glad I didn’t.”