WHERE THERE’S A WILL

WILL Pucovski has been declared “good to go” by selectors for a baptism of fire against India in the first Test, but David Warner will be consulted on the final decision.

National selector Trevor Hohns reflected the excitement of the nation on Thursday when he ushered Pucovski and allrounder Cameron Green into the Test arena, as well as confirming Pat Cummins would take the reins as captain if something were to happen to Tim Paine.

Pucovski has smashed 495 runs from his past two matches at an average of 247.5, although they are his only outings as an opener.

Despite that lack of experience, selectors are adamant the Victorian is a naturalborn opener.

Hohns stopped short of guaranteeing his Test debut in Adelaide next month – pressing the point Joe Burns’s incumbency will count for plenty in a selection showdown, in which Warner will be consulted.

But the fact selectors are confident the 22-year-old is mentally ready for the Test stage and a perfect fit as an opener, is surely an endorsement of his chances of launching one of the most anticipated careers in decades.

“Will’s in fantastic form. He’s not just in good form, he’s in great form. I think that’s undeniable,” Hohns said.

“As far as Will goes, and that goes with all our players, we check their health and wellbeing. Will’s good to go.

“Will has the game to handle [opening] . . . as we’ve seen. OK, it’s only a couple of games, but prior to that he’s been batting at No 3, he certainly has the technique to handle the opening position.

“As far as whether he’ll make the starting line-up, we’ll address that closer to the time.”

The expectation is Pucovski has become an irresistible choice ahead of Burns, who has struggled for runs to start the Sheffield Shield season.

But Hohns suggested Burns’s combination with Warner and incumbency in a team that went to No 1 in the world this year has him poised for a potential selection bat-off when the pair line up for Australia A in a tour match against India A next month.

“We’ll use the Australia A games as preparation for some of our Test players,” Hohns said.

“Joe Burns is the incumbent. The partnership he formed with David Warner has been instrumental in helping Australia get to the No 1 position in the world Test rankings.”

Green, 21, is the other youngster knocking at the door, an allrounder who could change the shape of Australian Test cricket.

But he must overcome the incumbency of Travis Head and Matthew Wade, who have shown form this season.

AUSTRALIAN TEST SQUAD: Sean Abbott, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Tim Paine (c), James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner