Will Pucovski was once seen as the future of Australian cricket as he made a half-century on his Test debut against India in 2021.
After many episodes of concussion, Will Pucovski's career comes to premature end at 26. He was once seen as the future of Australian batting.
Australian batter Will Pucovski suffered a nasty blow on his head and had to be substituted while playing for Victoria in a Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart on Sunday.
Will Pucovski is to have surgery on his right shoulder and is likely to be sidelined for up to six months
The final Test in Brisbane will start on January 15. The series is locked 1-1 after the third Test ended in a draw.
Pucovski rode his luck and Marnus Labuschagne showed resolve as the duo hit half-centuries to put Australia in a dominating position in a rain-curtailed opening day at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
The 23-year-old, who has suffered nine previous concussions, is expected to be among the contenders to open the batting against England with David Warner.
Australia Test captain Tim Paine was "devastated" to hear of Will Pucovski's latest concussion but has nominated Marcus Harris to step in should the opener prove unfit for the Ashes.
Australia looked destined for their biggest score of the series against India after a half century from debutant opener Will Pucovski helped them to 166 for two at the end of the rain-disrupted first day of the third Test in Sydney on Thursday.
Opening batsman Will Pucovski retired hurt in Australia A's tour match against India A on Tuesday after being struck in the helmet by a bouncer, raising fears about his fitness for the first Test against India next week.
With Australia grappling with injuries in the run-up to the series, there were doubts that Burns too might join the list but scans cleared all fears
Former captains, including Ian Chappell and Michael Clarke, have called for the inclusion of young opener Will Pucovski in Australia's team for the upcoming four-Test series against India.
'We do the necessary checks (and) Will's good to go, so we're hopeful that he'll be fine all the way through.'
'I think he has enough confidence in what he is doing, that if he had that opportunity (to play Test cricket) he'd be able to go out and take on the Indian bowlers.'
New South Wales paceman Abbott and Queensland veteran Neser are the reserve quicks behind regulars Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson.
Pucovski was ruled out after suffering a concussion in the first warm-up game between Australia A and India A.
Paine said Pucovski would open the batting if he was selected for the match
Very few young Australian cricketers have generated as much buzz in recent years as the 22-year-old, thanks to his prolific form in Sheffield Shield.
Former Australia batsman Neil Harvey, who made his Test debut at the age of 19 in Don Bradman's formidable 1948 side, has urged selectors to consider young talents Will Pucovski and Cameron Green for the upcoming series against India.
Highly-rated Australia batsman Will Pucovski, who will turn 21 on Saturday, has been released from the Test squad playing Sri Lanka due to mental health concerns, the country's cricket board said on Friday.
With Warner, who missed out a major chunk of the India assignment due to a groin injury, looking fit for the job, dropping Burns was an easy decision to make.
Marcus Harris will be the only change to the 11, with opener David Warner cleared to play after struggling with his groin strain in Sydney.
After several losses in the early years of the new century, a resurgent India notched up two consecutive series wins in Australia to become the Aussies' nemesis.
Without bigger contributions from their senior players -- Masood and Babar Azam among them -- Pakistan may struggle to prevent the losing streak from stretching to 16 in Melbourne, for all of Hafeez's fighting words.
Will Pucovski rode his luck, but his 62 was the best return for an Australian opener in the series so far and helped his side into a strong position at the end of Day 1 of the third Test against India at the SCG.
Images from Day 1 of the third Test between Australia and India at the SCG, on Thursday.
Fast-rising Australian batsman Will Pucovski feels he has "earned the right" to be in the red-ball squad for the series against India and is better prepared to make his Test debut compared to a couple of seasons ago.
Warner has been racing to be fit for the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Test
Australia should stick with Joe Burns as David Warner's opening partner for next month's first Test against India
Australia's rising star Will Pucovski has deactivated his social media accounts to stay away from the hype and intense speculation over his selection in the playing XI for the Test series opener against India next month.
Adam Gilchrist said Australia are likely to keep faith in the tried and tested combination of Joe Burns and David Warner at the top of the order,
Australia captain Tim Paine on Tuesday hinted that opener David Warner could play the third Test against India, while the young Will Pucovski is also not far from returning to competitive cricket.
Australia coach Justin Langer hinted on Wednesday that Joe Burns will continue as opening partner for David Warner in the Test series against India despite growing calls for Will Pucovski to replace him at the top of the order.
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting, who had earlier called for Pant's inclusion in the Indian team, was disappointed by the wicket-keeper batsman's glovework.
Langer referenced the strong partnership that Burns has had with David Warner, which was also played an important role in Australia's ascent to the top of the ICC Test rankings.
'Let's see what happens tomorrow. The plan is to bowl in one tight channel and build pressure.'
'I tended to agree with the gamble in that I didn't see an obvious replacement with Pucovski out, I was hoping he'd be fit to play.'
A groin injury has ruled David Warner out of at least the first Test against India and Australia coach Justin Langer says the temporarily vacant opening slot will go to the one who performs well for Australia 'A' in the upcoming tour games against the visitors.
Promising batsman Will Pucovski ruled himself out of selection for Australia's Test series against Pakistan due to "matters pertaining to mental wellbeing", Cricket Australia said on Thursday.
ill Pucovski has become the third Australian cricketer to report mental health problems to the team management in just over two weeks
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