Last Updated on 9 months ago by Charbel Coorey
Will Pucovski scores 2nd double; banging on the door of Test selection | Talented Australian batsman Will Pucovski in magnificent form
Will Pucovski has amazed the Australian cricket fans with his second-straight double century, this time against Western Australia in Adelaide. Resuming unbeaten on 183 on day two of Victoria’s clash against Western Australia in Adelaide, Pucovski converted it into double century – 202 runs, 40 minutes into play.
Converting his sixth First Class century into third double century, the 22-year old player has dominated this season by becoming the first player after Tasmanian Dene Hills in 1997-98 to complete successive double centuries in the Shield. The 22-year-old player joins an elite club which includes names such as Ponsford, Bradman, Morris and Jones, who struck consecutive Shield double tons for Victoria in 1991.
Last week, he had scored 255 against South Australia becoming first player after Dean Jones to score most runs between Sheffield Shield dismissals.
Pucovski was picked in the Australian Test squad for a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in 2019. But, later on, due to his mental health concerns, he was released from the squad.
“I feel really comfortable within myself now and more so than I did last year and more so than the year before that. There’s obviously a lot of different things that have been going on that I’ve wanted to get under control and in that sense, I feel like I’ve done that from a holistic perspective. In that sense, I feel like I’m really ready because I put that much work in I guess to make sure that I am in a good space”, the player said last week to the media.
On fourth day, Victoria gave a target of 414 to WA and on day two they trail by 273 runs as SE Marsh and C Green are at the pitch at 66 and 53 runs respectively.
Speaking on SEN Breakfast, former Victorian batsman Brad Hodge labelled Pucovski a once in a generation talent. “You know what it’s like when you come across a sportsman that’s just got every tool you need to be a superstar, and Will’s it. He’s a once in a generation (player) where he can play 100 Test matches, and given the circumstances around his health — hopefully, that’s fine — now it’s as good a time as ever to get him in the Test side. Going back a year and a half ago, he was pretty close to being selected in the Test side but just had to fight through those personal issues. The temperament of the young kid is outstanding so physically, mentally, and skillfully he’s in a pretty good place”, he said.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
