Pucovski's concussion 'improving slowly' but Harris Ashes frontrunner, says Paine
- Published
Will Pucovski was also hit by a bouncer in a warm-up game against India in December 2020
Australia top-order batter Will Pucovski is experiencing concussion symptoms for the 10th time after being hit while training with Victoria.
Pucovski, 23, took the blow to the head last week and is managing his recovery with the Victoria medical staff.
The right-hander scored 62 on his Test debut against India in January, before having surgery on a shoulder injury.
He is yet to play since, but is expected to be in contention to open alongside David Warner in the Ashes.
The five-Test series is due to begin in Brisbane on 8 December.
The first of Pucovski's concussions came in an Australian Rules Football game as a teenager. The causes of the other eight include bouncers, a dive to complete a run, external, a blow in the field and a door in his home.
Last year, Pucovski, who averages 53.41 in first-class cricket, said his "brain has probably been through a bit more than your average 22-year-old's" and as a result he has to do "a bit more rehab" to perform for Australia.
Speaking on Friday, to radio station SEN Hobart, Australia Test captain Tim Paine said Pucovski is "improving slowly".
"I don't think it's as bad as some of the others he's had before, but with his history we have to be very careful with anything around the brain," stressed Paine.
"I was devastated to hear it's happened again. He's a good player of the short ball, you don't average 54 or so in first-class cricket if you can't play the short ball.
"I think he's now more susceptible (to concussion) than other people. He doesn't need to be hit as hard on his head."
Paine also name-checked Marcus Harris as a solution to open the batting, after the left-hander scored 655 runs, at an average of 54.58, for Leicestershire this summer.
Harris has been dropped twice in his 10-Test career and averaged 9.66 against England during the 2019 Ashes.
"Marcus has just come back from a superb six months in England and we know his first-class record for Victoria has been excellent for some time now, so he's probably the frontrunner."
NFL This Week: Watch all the highlights including NFL's return to London
Oasis at Knebworth: Was this the crowning moment in Britpop history?
