Ashes 2021-22: Test captain Tim Paine devastated to hear of Will Pucovski’s latest concussion

With Will Pucovski’s Aussie summer under yet another concussion cloud, Test skipper Tim Paine has nominated the player he thinks would be a frontrunner to face the Poms.

Will Pucovski and Tim Paine are close. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Test captain Tim Paine has nominated Marcus Harris to possibly get an “extended run” as David Warner’s opening partner in the wake of young gun Will Pucovski’s latest concussion.

After revealing Pucovski was battling the after effects of a 10th concussion, suffered last week in a net session, Victorian officials said the 23-year-old would return to training “as soon as he’s able to”.

Paine, who has formed a close bond with Pucovski during his time with the Test squad, they also share the same manager, said he was “devastated” upon hearing of the young star’s latest concussion.

Tim Paine says he is ‘devastated’ for Will Pucovski.

The Test skipper said there was “no doubt” Pucovski would have opened the batting with Warner in this summer’s Ashes.

But while he was hopeful the young star could be back sooner rather than later, Paine suggested Pucovski’s Victorian teammate Harris, who has played 10 Tests, was the “frontrunner” to open when the Ashes starts in Brisbane on December 8.

“He’s probably the frontrunner now for that role. He’s someone who hasn’t had an extended run at Test cricket,” Paine said.

“For him to get potentially now get an extended run at Test cricket, I’m excited to potentially see what he could do.”

Paine, who is on the recovery path from his own neck surgery, has spoken to Pucovski who was hit in the last Tuesday, October 5, and is still experiencing symptoms.

Will Pucovski is struck in the head while playing for Australia A last year.

He was set to do some media interviews earlier this week, but they were postponed as he continued to recover.

The Test captain said the latest knock was not as bad as some of the others Pucovski had sustained, but was “shattering” nonetheless.

“He’s still hoping to be ready at some stage this summer,” Paine told SEN Hobart.

“He’s got plenty of support around him, and we know how good he is, so there’s no need to rush him at the moment. He’s 22-23 years of age, he’s got a lot of time in the game if we can get it right.

“Shattering when I found out. I’ve spoken to him a bit the last few days. He is improving slowly.

“I don’t think it’s as bad as some of the others he’s had before, but with his history we have to be very careful. I was devastated to hear it’s happened again.”

Marcus Harris could open the batting for Australia in the Ashes. Pic: Michael Klein

There are some suggestions Pucovski could yet recover in time to take part in Victoria’s opening Sheffield Shield game against NSW, which is set to take place later this month.

Paine dismissed any suggestions Pucovski had an issue with the short ball, and said his history meant he was just more susceptible to any hits.

“You don’t average 50 in first class cricket without being a good player of the short ball,” Paine said.

“He had a really bad concussion when he was a kid … he’s more susceptible thank other people, he doesn’t need to be hit as hard to have some effects on his head.”

Paine also revealed he was back in training after having surgery last month.,

“I’m doing a bit of pilates, jogging and swimming. It was good to have bat back in hand. I’m moving pretty normally,” he said.

“I hit about 20 balls yesterday (Thursday), albeit underarm. The only issue at this stage is strength in my left arm.

“Just being careful with the load I am putting through the spine while there is still some healing going.

“The movement in my neck is great and I am hoping in the next two weeks I can really start to put my foot down. I can go from zero to 100 really quickly.”