Shield: Pucovski’s record reminder to Test selectors

Will Pucovski teamed up with Marcus Harris for the highest partnership in Sheffield Shield history, giving selectors plenty to think about.

Victorian openers Marcus Harris, left, and William Pucovski who shared a record Sheffield Shield partnership against South Australia

The highest partnership in Sheffield Shield history has given selectors plenty to think about on the eve of the Australian summer.

A 486-run opening stand from Victoria’s Will Pucovski and Marcus Harris against South Australia at Glenelg Oval passed the record set by the Waugh twins who scored an unbeaten 464 against Western Australia in 1990.

To put that into context, the Sheffield Shield has run since 1892 and featured some reasonable talent over that 138-year journey.

Pucovski, 22, may have been keen, after all the press given to WA’s Cameron Green last week, to remind people that he is the incumbent “best since Ponting”. His career high 255 not out came from 386 balls, including 27 fours and a solitary six.

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He and Harris, who reached 239, both scored more than South Australia which managed just 200 in the first innings.

Pucovski was set to make his debut in 2019 against Pakistan but was gazumped at the last minute by Kurtis Patterson.

This was his first innings as an opener and the first match for Victoria who missed the early rounds because of quarantine complications.

Pucovski’s partner in the historic knock, Harris, scored his 239 from 399 balls, with exactly the same number of boundaries.

Harris, 28, dropped last summer and replaced by Queensland’s Joe Burns, would have been keen to remind selectors that he too will not go quietly.

While Justin Langer said the Test team was pretty settled, the sort of noise Green, Pucovski and Harris are making will ensure that nobody gets too comfortable.

Will Pucovski on his way to 255 not out

Green was coming off an impressive 197 against NSW last week but was knocked over cheaply in WA’s first innings against Tasmania. He did, however, return to bowling, sending down two spells of four overs and picking up a wicket.

Tall and testing with his bounce, he had taken 28 wickets at 22 before breaking down in November last year and moving up the order to play as a batsman.

Greg Chappell described Green as the best he’d seen since Ponting in The Australian last week. Suggestions his imposing form and undeniable skill would put pressure on Matthew Wade did not sit well with the Tasmanian skipper who returned to the Shield this week to score 83 while batting at No 3.

“He’s going to play cricket for Australia and WA for a long, long time,“ said Wade. ”He’s an exciting prospect. It was a real challenge to face him. He got the ball through at decent pace.

“It‘s hard to say (whether he’s ready for Test cricket now). Long term, he’s going to be good enough to play as your third or fourth bowler, I think he’s that good.

“Whether it‘s going to be now or in 12 months’ time, or in six months’ time, it’s going to happen at some stage.

“I‘m looking forward to seeing him play for Australia at some stage – hopefully not in my position.”

South Australian captain Travis Head isn’t going anywhere either, fresh from a brilliant 171no against Tasmania last week he again his three figures in his state’s second innings against the Victorians.

And former Test opener Cameron Bancroft also hit a century in Western Australia’s game against Tasmania.

There were some sparkling performances in the Shield over the weekend and bright among them was a bewitching Trent Copeland spell.

At one stage the Blues veteran was on 5-6 from 14 overs against Queensland, and had both Burns and first-innings century-maker Marnus Labuschagne out for ducks. It was his 21st five-wicket haul.

Pucovski’s future is not as simple as many wish it to be. The 22-year-old has suffered a number of disturbing concussions over the years and has also wrestled with mental health issues which have seen him withdraw from the Australia camp last summer which may have cost him his Test debut.

In 2018-19 he became the ninth Australian to make a double century in first class cricket before their 21st birthday finding company in the feat with Don Bradman, Ponting, Ian Chappell, Doug Walters, Norm O’Neill, Clem Hill, Darren Lehmann and Paul Sheahan.

Both Harris and Pucovski appear to have benefited from the appointment of Chris Rogers as Victorian coach. A batting specialist, the former Test opener has worked with the pair over the summer.

The coach is full of praise for both and recently told Cricinfo he was highly impressed by Pucovski’s maturity at the crease — an observation others have made about Green.

“Will’s at a really interesting point in his own career,“ Rogers said. ”Obviously there’s the issues regarding the concussions and so forth but I don’t think anyone’s doubting his ability. It’s about finding out what he thinks he needs to do to take the next step and finding ways to support that.

“I think he‘s at that age where he’s really come to terms with everything about his game. He’s had some experiences now that have tested him and would no doubt have built a lot of that resilience. It’s going to be a little bit up to him but with a lot of support from the coaching staff as well.

“I think he‘s a fantastic player. What stands out for me is his mindset. I think that’s really quite impressive for a guy his age. He almost looks like he plays as a very experienced player, so it’s probably helping him develop that as well.”

Pucovski says he did not feel ready to play Test cricket in the past but “I’m in a really good space now”.