Victorian cricketer Will Pucovski was forced to leave the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart with an injury after taking a nasty blow to the helmet.
While playing against Tigers fast bowler Riley Meredith at Bellerive Oval on Sunday afternoon, Pucovski ducked behind a bouncer, dropped his bat and fell to the turf. The 26-year-old was in severe discomfort and was vomiting on deck as team medics rushed him to the ground.
A few minutes later, Pucovski stood up and carefully walked off the ground, holding his head, before retiring with zero games due to injury and being replaced by teammate Peter Hanscomb.
“Will is currently in the hands of medical professionals,” Cricket Victoria confirmed in a statement to Fox Cricket.
“We will provide updates in the future.”
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The injury setback comes after Pucovski reached his first first-class hundred in more than three years with a century goal in the Sheffield Shield century against New South Wales at the SCG last month.
Pucovski, who is regularly touted as a future star in Australian cricket, has battled concussions throughout his professional career. He took six weeks off from cricket during the 2018/19 home summer to deal with mental health issues, and requested not to take part in next season's Test selection “due to issues relating to his mental health”.
The right-hander made his long-awaited international debut in the 2021 New Year Test against India, scoring 61 runs in the first innings at the SCG, but a shoulder injury forced Victorian teammate Marcus Harris to start in his place. paved the way for
Pucovski suffered a concussion setback throughout the summer of 2021/22, sidelining him for most of the season. His previous concussion scare came in bizarre circumstances, when he was kicked in the head with a volleyball during a Sheffield Shield warm-up.
He took an indefinite leave from the sport in October 2022 before returning through grade cricket in January last year.
Earlier this summer, Pucovski was substituted in Victoria's Round 21 game against South Australia after suffering a hard blow to the helmet.
Appearing on the Vic State Cricket podcast earlier this summer, Pucovski claimed his mental health issues and concussion battles were “absolutely” linked.
“Concussions mask a bigger problem, which is mental health,” Pucovski explained.
“Mental health was a much bigger issue for me than the concussion.
“I'm not worried about my long-term health. It's more about my mental health.”
Victoria, who are chasing an unlikely target of 424 for victory against Tasmania, are currently 2-202, with opener Nick Maddison scoring 109 following an opening 178 run with Marcus Harris. ing.
