Mental issues sideline test contender
Will Pucovski has requested that he not be considered for Australia’s test series against Pakistan ‘‘due to matters pertaining to mental wellbeing’’.
Victoria’s Pucovski played for Australia A in a tour game against Pakistan in Perth and had been a contender to make the test squad but Cricket Australia said in a statement he had asked not to be considered after reporting the issue to team management on Tuesday night.
‘‘We applaud Will for having the courage to discuss his situation with team management in Perth,’’ CA teams chief Ben Oliver said. ‘‘Will’s decision not to nominate for test selection was the right one in the circumstances and one that everyone in the Australian cricket family supports.
‘‘Mental health is a complex issue that unfortunately impacts many young men and women in our society. By Will bravely taking this position, he will undoubtedly inspire others facing similar challenges to speak up and take positive steps towards improving their mental wellbeing.’’
Pucovski also withdrew from a test squad in Canberra in February for mental health reasons and took time out last summer during the domestic season for a stress-related issue.
Cameron Bancroft is now expected to be a surprise inclusion in a 14-man Australian squad for the series against Pakistan starting at the Gabba next week, three months after he was dumped during the Ashes.
The squad will include seven batsmen, which gives them a spare in the event a concussion substitute is required as was the case at Lord’s in August when Steve Smith was felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer and replaced by Marnus Labuschagne.
Queensland’s Joe Burns is also set to make the squad and shapes as the likely opening partner for David Warner in the first test.
Travis Head, meanwhile, is also set to make the squad, with Victoria’s Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja tipped to miss out.
The selectors are poised to name five fast bowlers, with Ashes squad member Michael Neser included after a fine start to the Sheffield Shield and after impressing with the pink ball for Australia A against Pakistan in Perth.
Bancroft has come from the clouds, given he was not even in the Australia A side this week until the withdrawal of Nic Maddinson for mental health reasons.
An opener for the first two tests against England this year, Bancroft batted at No 6 in the match against Pakistan under lights and top-scored in the first innings with 49 as the team of test hopefuls was rolled for 122.
The 26-year-old has struggled in the Shield this season, however, with only 57 runs in six innings and a top score of 30.