Another new beginning for Test opener

Pucovski, now 25, hasn’t performed for his state since taking one other break from the sport final October to deal with his ongoing psychological well being points.

The one-Test opener appeared to be on monitor for a return to worldwide cricket originally of the summer time when he began the season with an unbeaten 193 for the Victorian second XI.

He then performed two one-day video games and two Sheffield Shield matches earlier than opting to step away from the sport for a 3rd time, together with his taking part in future up within the air.

While he’ll return for the second XI, a transfer into the Vics’ Shield group for the ultimate match of the season on March 14, and probably the ultimate ought to they make it, stays unclear.

During his absence, Pucovski has fallen down the pecking order of potential Test openers, with Cameron Bancroft topping the Shield run-scoring checklist to place his personal identify in competition for a recall as David Warner’s future stays clouded.

Pucovski has been open about his battles and, throughout commentary stints for Channel 7 in the course of the summer time, mentioned he was “exploring different things” to work via his points.

“It has been really tough because you get a taste of it, you get a taste of the bug, and then, for one reason or another, you’re set back a little bit,” he mentioned.

“It’s just the cards you’ve been dealt, and I’m just exploring different ways to make things work.”

Pucovski performed his one and solely Test towards India in January 2021 earlier than hurting his shoulder, which required surgical procedure, forcing him on to the sidelines for an prolonged interval.

He returned initially of the 2022 season however suffered one other head knock, took time away, a state of affairs that has been on repeat.

But Pucovski mentioned he was taking inspiration from Test captain Pat Cummins, who burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old however then missed six years of cricket via varied accidents, earlier than returning and turning into the star he’s.

“I’m trying to look at it as if I’m getting a bit of a head injury that keeps repeating itself,” he mentioned

“If you’ve got a back injury or a hamstring injury that keeps recurring, you’re going to look at different avenues and different ways to fix that problem, and I’m doing that at the moment.”