Leg Buys: Will Pucovski clue in key Victoria deal, Hobart Hurricanes ink BBL gun

Victoria is guarding for life without Will Pucovski as his future in the sport hangs in the balance, with a veteran opener inking a long deal, plus the Hurricanes have welcomed back a BBL star in this week’s Leg Buys.

Marcus Harris has signed a long-term contract extension with Victoria as his adopted state moves to guard for life without Will Pucovski.

Harris, 32, was due to fall out-of-contract at the end of this season but has penned a fresh three-year deal with the Vics that will take him until the end of the 2027-28 season.

The left-hander has been a major success since moving to Victoria from Western Australia in 2016, making 14 Sheffield Shield centuries for the Vics, being a part of two Shield winning sides and playing 14 Tests for Australia.

He has played 68 Shield matches for Victoria already meaning he could move well into triple-figures by the time his new arrangement expires.

The opener remains in the mix for an Australian recall after being a spare batter with the Test side for much of 2022 and 2023 before being bypassed when selectors preferred Matt Renshaw for the series against the West Indies and New Zealand earlier this year.

Marcus Harris will be with Victoria for at least the next four summers. Picture: AAP

In any case the decision to sign Harris until he is almost 36 is an acknowledgment from Cricket Victoria of the gaping hole left at the top of the order following Nic Maddinson’s return to NSW and Pucovski’s widely-expected retirement.

Pucovski is still officially contracted for this season with CV waiting on an official call from the one-Test opener who hasn’t returned to training since being concussed following a hit from Tasmania’s Riley Meredith in March.

His likely exit from the game has been held up by complications relating to his potential payout from cricket authorities.

With Maddinson and Pucovski both gone, youngsters Ash Chandrasinghe and Dylan Brasher have been vying to partner Harris at the top of the Victorian first-class order. The pair made 12 and 18 respectively in a second XI game against NSW this week.

There had been murmurings around a potential state homecoming for Harris after he joined the Perth Scorchers as a replacement player last year but nothing materialised on that front.

To the contrary, Harris is now likely to return to the Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming Big Bash League season.

Jake Doran is returning to the Hurricanes. Picture: Getty Images

HURRICANES ARE A-DORAN

Almost all BBL primary list spots are now filled after the Hobart Hurricanes signed wicketkeeper-batter Jake Doran to their list for the coming season.

Doran, 27, returns to the Hurricanes having last played for the club in early 2020 following an earlier stint with the Sydney Thunder.

The Tasmanian state gloveman pushed his case for another BBL opportunity after performing strongly in Darwin during the Winter.

Hobart, one of two clubs to have never won the BBL, have a raft of wicketkeeping options on their list after signing West Indian Shai Hope in the draft to join Matthew Wade, Caleb Jewell and Ben McDermott.

The Hobart Hurricanes have no shortage of wicketkeepers. Picture: Getty Images

The Doran move continues a trend of BBL clubs filling the last places on their respective lists with players already playing domestic cricket in their state,

Spinner Matthew Spoors was confirmed as singning with the Scorchers after being strongly linked to the Perth side to help fill the void left by the exit of Hamish McKenzie to the Melbourne Stars.

Paceman Xavier Crone is expected to lob at the Renegades alongside Harris while gloveman Liam Blackford is on the radar of the Stars after playing for the club’s academy side.

Industry sources have indicated that reigning champions Brisbane Heat would leave one spot open until closer to the start of the season.

South Australian spinner Ben Manenti has attracted interest from the Sydney Sixers.