’Primed’ Puck top of the list – Warner
AUSTRALIAN opener David Warner is all in on walking out to bat with Will Pucovski in the Ashes opener at the Gabba, labelling the young Victorian a “hell of a player”.
After just one Test together last summer against India, for partnerships of just six and 16, Warner declared 23-year-old Pucovski was “primed” to play international cricket.
Pucovski is expected to make a playing return from a 10th concussion, suffered during training earlier in October, in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield clash with NSW at the MCG from November 5.
He should have two matches to show he’s ready for a return to the Test team, and everyone at Victoria who has watched him through the pre-season is adamant he’ll only need that much time to get into batting shape.
Warner said the selectors would have the final say, with Marcus Harris and potentially even Usman Khawaja in the discussion should Pucovski not come up.
But the 35-year-old star knows who he wants to bat with.
“The selectors will pick the people who are in form, bring it down to who they think are the right two or three candidates, then make a decision,” Warner said.
“Looking back, Puck was in waiting, then he played (his one Test), then hurt his shoulder and he’s been recovering. But he’s a hell of a player, he’s primed and right for international cricket.
“If I was to make a judgment call, he’s the first person who is on the top of their list.”
Warner dismissed any issues over a combination of two left-handers if Pucovski isn’t available despite the damage veteran English fast bowler Stuart Broad did to the lefties in the 2019 Ashes.
Broad removed Warner seven times in 10 innings as the opener managed a mere 95 runs, only passing 11 once.
But Warner said things would be different in Australia.
“Australia is different when it comes to left-hand batting and the opposition,” he said.
“We know the conditions. I can’t see the ball reacting to the wicket like it did in England. In Australia you can leave a lot of balls on length. In England
those length balls are hitting the stumps.
“It doesn’t worry me too much what the (opening) combination is. Whoever the selectors decide to choose, they will pick the person who is in form.”
Victorian coach Chris Rogers said as long as Pucovski looked “comfortable”
when he made his batting return, he’d be ready to step back up to Test level. “The first thing you want to see is him playing well and be comfortable out in the middle, particularly playing the short ball,” Rogers said.
“How many games they want to see that in, I can’t tell you that.
“He can come out and get a 200
and walk into the Test team and get a 60. You know when you throw balls to him, it’s different.
“I think perhaps they just want to see him go out and look comfortable and them maybe they’ll be confident to pick him.
“If he went out and scored a big score, I’d definitely pick him.”