Rogers behind Will’s rise

Pucovski’s move to opener part of coach’s plan to get him a baggy green

WILL Pucovski’s shock promotion to the top of Victoria’s batting order was designed to push the red-ball specialist as David Warner’s next opening partner in Australia’s Test line-up.

The NT News understands that new Victoria coach Chris

Rogers helped determine that Pucovski’s best shot at earning a baggy green was as an opener, rather than a No.5 or No.6 batsman as previously believed.

Rogers opened the batting for Australia in all of the 25 Tests he played, mostly with Warner at the other end.

A Warner-Pucovski pairing would deliver Australia a nice blend of finesse and fire from their contrasting styles.

Pucovski has replaced former Test batsman Nic Maddinson as Marcus Harris’s opening partner for Victoria, and the pair put on a Sheffield Shield-record partnership of 486 runs against South Australia last week.

Harris was surprised to learn he would walk to the crease with Pucovski – and not Maddinson – against South Australia, and the partnership will continue against Western Australia today.

“I only found out I was opening with Will the day before the game, so I’m not sure how long ‘Bucky’ (Rogers) had been thinking of doing it,” Harris said. “They gave him a full-on bumper barrage there for a period of time, and he played it really well. His game has come a long way.

“He never looks like he’s going to throw an innings away. He batted so well, especially opening the batting — he’d never done it before.”

Pucovski’s unbeaten 255 was his fifth first-class century, and he recently signed a maiden Big Bash contract with Melbourne Stars.

The 22-year-old is a good chance to earn selection in Australia’s expanded squad against India, although a debut at Adelaide Oval on December 17 seems unlikely.