Will Pucovski set to return to Sheffield Shield 2023-2024 after recovering from concussion

Will Pucovski is rated as one of the finest young batting talents in the Australian domestic circuit. He also made his debut for the national team in January 2021 but his progress has been halted by concussion issues.

Last month, on January 22, Pucovski suffered his latest concussion during a second XI encounter between Victoria and South Australia. The right-handed batter copped a blow to his helmet after playing a short ball bowled by seamer David Grunt of South Australia. Pucovski subsequently missed Victoria’s last-start Sheffield Shield 2023-2024 win against South Australia by three wickets in Melbourne.

Now, the 26-year-old has recovered and has been added to Victoria’s squad for their upcoming Shield encounter against New South Wales, which begins on Friday, February 16, in Sydney.

“Unfortunately our white-ball campaign came to an end on Wednesday but we now turn our attention to putting together a strong Shield performance at the SCG and put ourselves in the running to make the Shield final,” David Hussey, Cricket Victoria’s head of male cricket, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“It is fantastic to welcome back our captain in Will Sutherland for the Shield after his international debut, while it is also great to have Will Pucovski back in the squad,” Hussey added.

For the unversed, Pucovski had been cleared of concussion after being hit on his head last month. However, he experienced delayed symptoms in the following days and it stopped him from returning to the field.

Pucovski, who suffered a shoulder injury during his only Test appearance has played three Sheffield Shield matches this season, with a top score of 65, and also featured in a tour game for Victoria against Pakistan.

Victoria are second on the points table, with four wins and two losses from seven games. Meanwhile, New South Wales have three wins and three losses from seven games and are placed at No. 4 on the points table.

Meanwhile, Western Australia have been bolstered by the addition of Cameron Green and Aaron Hardie in their squad for their upcoming encounter against Tasmania. Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey is set to represent South Australia in their match against Queensland.

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