Will Pucovski gets retired hurt after copping nasty blow on helmet

Victorian batter Will Pucovski was forced to retire hurt after being hit on the head by a vicious bouncer during a second XI encounter against South Australia on Monday, January 22.

Pucovski copped the nasty blow when he was batting on 42. The 25-year-old looked quite uncomfortable while playing a hook shot off a short ball from South Australian seamer David Grant. Pucovski tried to continue batting but he had to walk off the field in the following over at an individual score of 43. This is the 12th instance when the Malvern-born has suffered a concussion after being hit on the head.

Cricket Victoria went on to confirm that Pucovski, who made his only Test appearance for Australia back in January 2021, was doing well and awaiting the results of a concussion test. The right-handed batter was also seen in the nets after the incident. According to reports, Pucovski experienced dizziness after sustaining the hit but his return to the nets is certainly a positive sign.

Pucovski is one of the most highly-rated young cricketers in the Australian domestic circuit. However, he has had his battles against concussion and mental health throughout his professional career. In the 2018-19 home summer, Pucovski had taken a six-week break from cricket to deal with mental health issues. He requested Cricket Australia (CA) to not consider him for a Test call-up the following season "due to matters pertaining to mental wellbeing."

After making his debut in the New Year's Test at the SCG in 2021 against India and scoring 61 in the first innings, Pucovski suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to be replaced in the playing XI by Marcus Harris. He suffered concussions during the 2021-22 summer, keeping him on the sidelines for most part of the season. Pucovski suffered a concussion scare previously after kicking a volleyball into his head during a Sheffield Shield warm-up.

In October 2022, Pucovski decided to take an indefinite break from the sport before making a return through grade cricket in January 2023.