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Waugh magnanimous after Shield record tumbles
By Daniel Cherny and Chris Barrett
A magnanimous Mark Waugh has backed Will Pucovski to perform at Test level after Pucovski and Marcus Harris broke the Waugh twins' 30-year-old Sheffield Shield partnership record.
And Australian cricket legend and former national selector Greg Chappell says there is no reason Pucovski can't open the batting in Test cricket this summer.
The Waugh twins' 464-run fifth-wicket partnership posted for NSW against Western Australia at the WACA Ground in December 1990 had been the record for any partnership in the almost 130-year-old history of the Shield. But Victorian openers Pucovski and Harris moved ahead of that total on Sunday morning on day three of their side's match against South Australia at Glenelg.
The scoreboard shows Will Pucovski and Marcus Harris breaking the Sheffield Shield partnership record held by Steve and Mark Waugh.Credit: Getty Images
The stand finally ended on 486 when Harris fell for 239, caught behind off the bowling of Wes Agar.
Harris is looking to regain his Test spot after being dropped following last year's Ashes tour while the prodigious Pucovski – who made his highest first-class score by passing 243 on Sunday – has declared himself available for Test selection this summer after removing himself from calculations last year because of mental health reasons.
He has generally batted at No.3 but was elevated to open ahead of Nic Maddinson for the Vics' first Shield game this season. Incumbent Test opener Joe Burns fell for a duck on Sunday morning playing for Queensland against NSW, which will doubtless lead to renewed speculation about the security of his spot in the Australian XI.
Victorian openers Marcus Harris (left) and William Pucovski celebrate a record-breaking partnership against South Australia at ACH Group Stadium in Adelaide.Credit: Getty Images
"Records are always there to be broken. It was great to hold the record but it was a matter of time I guess before someone did it. They're a couple of good players, too. Well done to them," Mark Waugh said.
"I think [Pucovksi is a] very, very talented and has a great technique. He's been one of the up and coming players who's been earmarked from a pretty young age that he's going to be a good player. It's just a matter of him playing and scoring runs.
"If everything goes right for him and he stays on track then he's got a big future playing at Test level I think."
Speaking on Cricket Australia's match stream, Chappell, a renowned supporter of young talent, said he was impressed by Pucovski's desire to open the batting.
"I think it's terrific. It shows that his ambition is there, he wants to be a good player and he wants to take on the best bowlers at the most challenging time with the new ball And he's got a game that handles the new ball well, the moving ball, and plays fast bowling pretty well. I think he's well-suited temperamentally as an opener, to get in there while the field's up," Chappell said.
Asked whether Pucovski – who has also suffered a string of concussions during his career – could open the batting in the first Test against India this summer, Chappell was unequivocal.
"No reason why not. He's capable, there's no doubt about it. The good sign is that because he's had the concussion issues and it's had repercussions in other areas, the fact that they've had to go through this quarantine program to get here would be challenging for someone who might feel a bit claustrophobic from time to time. But apparently, he's coped with it very well. So that's a good sign that he's healthy in more ways than one."
The Vics were 2-564 at lunch on day three, with Pucovski unbeaten on 255. They declared almost immediately after lunch at 3-564, straight after Maddinson was dismissed.
The Redbacks had been bowled out for 200 on day one but a Travis Head century helped give them a fighting chance of avoiding defeat, with SA 2-172 at stumps.
A Trent Copeland masterclass (5-17 from 17 overs) helped NSW bowl Queensland out for 190 in their second innings at Karen Rolton Oval, but the Blues were teetering at 3-71 in their pursuit of 206 to win.
Meanwhile centuries from Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman left WA well placed at 0-232 in their second inning at stumps on day three against Tasmania at Gladys Elphick Park.
Stumps scores on day three:
SA 200 & 2-172 v Victoria 3d-564
WA 302 & 0-232 v Tasmania 432
Queensland 298 & 190 v NSW 283 & 3-71