Pucovski was on the cusp of selection for Brisbane opener
VICTORIAN Will Pucovski was expected to be named in Australia’s 14-man Test squad before making himself unavailable for selection, it emerged yesterday.
The 21-year-old batting sensation caught a midnight flight out of Perth on Wednesday after deciding to put his mental wellbeing ahead of the opportunity to make his national debut against Pakistan next week.
Pucovski had played for Australia A against Pakistan in a three-day tour match, making five in the first innings and not being required to bat in side, Melbourne, during the Big Bash season.
The prodigiously talented batsman was praised for his bravery in turning down what seemed near certain Test selection.
“It’s a very unfortunate happening for him once again,” selection chairman Trevor Hohns said in Perth yesterday.
“He’s a great player, he’s going to be a very good player. Obviously the timing wasn’t quite right for him.”
Test fast bowler Mitchell Starc said it was “concerning” to see another player step away for mental health reasons.
Pucovski’s decision follows that of Victorian teammates Glenn Maxwell and Nic Maddinson in the past two weeks.
“The positive thing is that the guys are feeling more comfortable about being open and honest with how they are feeling whereas in the past they might have just tried to kick on and get through things and it could have built up to be something worse,” Starc said.
Cricket Australia’s new general manager of national teams, Ben Oliver, said Pucovski had reported some “challenges” while with the Australia A team as early as Tuesday night.
“The absolute priority is for Will as a human being. We’ll deal with cricket when the time is right,” Oliver said.
It is the second instance of Pucovski removing himself from cricket while on the cusp of national selection, having also left the Australian squad during the second Test against Sri Lanka in February.
His mental health concerns first came to light when stepped away from Victoria after scoring 243 against Western Australia last October. He has also had to deal with a series of concussions during recent years.
Pucovski was substituted out of the Victorian side in March last year after being hit on the helmet during a shield clash against NSW at the Junction Oval.
The growing emergence of mental health issues has prompted CA and the Australian Cricketers Association to conduct significant research in to the area with $13 million invested in to player development and wellbeing.
Among several initiatives is a survey about mental health, which has been sent to all players.
Justine Whipper, the ACA’s player development and wellbeing manager, said the results would help them “identify emerging trends in wellbeing and meet the needs of our players”.