Will Pucovski Announces His Retirement from Cricket Due to Concussion
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Synopsis
Former Australian Test opener Will Pucovski has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket due to concussion, having faced multiple head injuries throughout his career. He will continue in cricket as the head coach of Melbourne Premier Cricket.
Key Takeaways
- Will Pucovski retires from cricket due to concussion.
- He has suffered multiple head injuries throughout his career.
- Latest incident occurred during a Sheffield Shield match in March 2024.
- Pucovski will coach the Melbourne Cricket Club next year.
- He played 36 First Class matches with impressive stats.
New Delhi, April 8 (NationPress) Former Australia Test opener Will Pucovski has decided to retire from all forms of cricket effective immediately due to ongoing issues related to concussion.
Pucovski's retirement comes after a recommendation from a team of medical experts. Throughout his career, he encountered multiple incidents where he suffered head injuries, leading to concussions.
The most recent concussion incident occurred in March 2024 when a ball struck his helmet during a Sheffield Shield match, forcing him to retire hurt. This injury sidelined him for the remainder of the Australian summer and subsequently led to him withdrawing from his contract with Leicestershire for the English summer of 2024, according to reports from the ICC.
The 27-year-old shared this news during an exclusive interview on SEN's Whateley on Tuesday morning.
"I wish I was announcing this under more favorable circumstances. I’m not going to take the field again. It has been an incredibly challenging year, to put it mildly. The key message is that I won’t be playing at any level again," Pucovski stated on SEN Whateley.
"After my century in Sydney (in my second last game), I felt like things were starting to align for me personally. I worked hard to ensure everything was right off the field so I could excel on it," he added.
Last year, a medical panel had advised the 27-year-old to retire.
Pucovski played 36 First Class matches, amassing seven centuries and nine fifties, with a top score of 255 not out against South Australia in 2020.
In his only Test match, played against India during the 2020/21 season in Sydney, he scored 62 and 10.
Despite his retirement from playing, Pucovski will continue his involvement in cricket as the head coach of the Premier Cricket team, Melbourne, the same club where he debuted in First XI as a teenager during the 2014/15 season.
"I’m truly passionate about this direction. I will be coaching the MCC (Melbourne Cricket Club) next year, which is incredibly exciting for me. It has always felt like a second home, and I have consistently received love and support from the MCC throughout my career, whether at higher levels or while representing them," Pucovski expressed.
"I have been associated with the club since I was 11 or 12 years old, participating in their junior academy all the way through. Coaching has always been a goal of mine, and I’m eager to dive into it and see where this journey leads me," Pucovski concluded.
