Pucovski in doubt as Harris waits in wings
BRISBANE: Will Pucovski has failed to train during Australia’s main session before its test series decider against India as Marcus Harris prepared in the Gabba nets for a potential callup.
Pucovski suffered a partial shoulder dislocation while diving in the field at the SCG, where he impressed on test debut while opening alongside David Warner.
Coach Justin Langer said Harris, who has not played for Australia since the 2019 Ashes, would be an ‘‘obvious’’ inclusion if Pucovski is ruled out of the fourth test which starts tomorrow.
Langer remains hopeful Pucovski will be able to prove he is ready for the highstakes match, which comes with the fourtest series locked at 11.
The early signs yesterday were not promising for the Victorian prodigy.
Pucovski was restricted to walking laps, alongside Australia’s fatigued frontline pacemen, as Harris went to work at training.
Langer watched Har ris closely during the session, when he was tested out by reserve quicks Michael Neser and Sean Abbott, and had a long chat with the left hander at one stage.
‘‘We’ll probably know tonight I reckon, whether he (Pucovski) will be right to go,’’ Langer said yesterday.
‘‘It’ll either be a quick turnaround and he’s back up and into it, or it might be a few weeks.
‘‘We’ll keep an eye on how he pulls up today.’’
Langer confirmed that Pucovski had a shoulder issue before the mishap on the final day of the third test, which seemingly amplified the problem.
David Warner, who was sent for followup scans after returning from his groin injury, had a brief hit yesterday.
‘‘His tendon will be sore . . . he will be in pain,’’ Langer said.
‘‘I’m 100% confident he’s right to go for the test.’’
Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc did not bowl yesterday, as expected given the threeday turnaround between tests.
James Pattinson remains in Melbourne as he recovers from a rib injury, meaning Neser would likely make his debut if the host was forced to rejig its attack.
Meanwhile, Langer yesterday launched a passionate defence of underfire batsman Steve Smith after cameras captured him scuffing the crease as Indian chased victory in the SCG.
The former captain’s actions were slammed by retired international stars Michael Vaughan and Virenda Sehwag, who assumed his scratching was an effort to remove the guard of an onsong Rishabh Pant.
The incident follows Smith’s ban for his role in the Cape Town balltampering saga.
Langer is having none of the criticism though, delivering an unprompted defence of the 31yearold.
‘‘I literally cannot believe some of the rubbish I read about Steve Smith,’’ he said.
‘‘Absolute load of rubbish; if anyone knows Steve Smith, he’s a bit quirky and he does some weird things and we’ve all laughed about it for the last couple of years.
‘‘Anyone who suggests for one millisecond he was trying to do something untoward, they’re way out of line, absolutely out of line.
‘‘That wicket was that flat and it was like concrete; you need 15inch spikes to make an indent on the crease . . . seriously.
‘‘That was absolutely ludicrous, and in the last couple of years since he’s been back, he’s been exemplary on and off the field.
‘‘He’s let his bat do the talking. He was abused like I’ve never seen anything through England and he just kept smiling and letting his bat do the talking . . . give me a break.’’
Describing the scuffing as a subconscious routine, Langer admitted Smith would probably be more aware of his actions now.