WILL POWER
Pucovski given baggy green light for Test debut
WILL Pucovski has been declared physically and mentally ready to face the bouncer barrage that will accompany his highly anticipated Test debut at the SCG.
India has flagged its intention to ruthlessly attack Pucovski once he crosses the white line, with his history of concussion no protection from the laws of the jungle.
Australian fast bowling spearhead Pat Cummins and back- up quick Michael Neser both tested Pucovski with rapid short balls in the nets on Tuesday and the young prodigy looked unperturbed as he ducked and weaved.
Coach Justin Langer is adamant Pucovski does not have an issue facing bouncers, despite his record of copping blows to the head. Both player and coach have taken enormous confidence from the advice of an independent neurologist that the 22- yearold’s history would not necessarily have any impact on his long- term health.
Before he was struck on the side of the helmet during a tour match against the Indians last month, Pucovski had made an irresistible case for selection with back- to- back double centuries for Victoria.
But it wasn’t just the mountain of runs. The untold story is the onslaught of short- pitched bowling he copped from South Australia and Western Australia in those two matches.
Redbacks spearhead Wes Agar — no slouch at 140km/ h — unleashed at Pucovski with four or five spells of unrelenting short- pitched bowling.
It wasn’t for the faint- hearted. But Pucovski stood up to every bouncer and finished 255 not out.
In Victoria’s second fixture, Western Australia’s Matthew Kelly and Cameron Gannon stopped pitching it up to Pucovski after nine overs and made a concerted effort to target the upstairs department. Pucovski finished with 202 runs.
He has stood at the starter’s blocks three times but is yet to play a Test. But now it finally looks like it’s go time, and he is ready for an Indian ambush at the SCG.
“As he will say, in the last three years, every team he’s played against has bowled a lot of short pitched bowling to him,” said Langer.
“He’s practised it. He’s hit thousands, and thousands and thousands of short balls.”
Indian great Sunil Gavaskar flagged already this summer that India was ready to go “Good Will Hunting”.
“You would expect that to happen … if the word is you’re not really comfortable against a particular delivery, you’re going to get a lot of it,” said Gavaskar. “I don’t see India easing up because he’s got a history of concussion.”
Australia is yet to decide whether Pucovski debuts in Sydney, but Langer says he takes enormous confidence from the fact the man himself holds no fears.
“No one else has to do it for him. He has to do it. So if he wants to take it on, then that’s the best advice I can hear,” said Langer. “Will saw an independent neurologist yesterday and he’s seen a couple now. The real heartening thing for him is whilst he’s had a few concussions … and they’ve come in different ways, it’s not necessarily going to have any longterm impact on him.
“If you can put your mind at rest with that then that’s a real positive for him. He’s in a great frame of mind. The only way to get back on the horse is to get back on the horse.”