IND vs AUS: Opener Will Pucovski Cleared of Concussion by Neurologist Ahead of Sydney Test
An independent neurologist cleared the in-form opener Will Pucovski to play after his ninth concussion injury last month, says, coach Justin Langer.
Australia opening batsman Will Pucovski has been cleared of concussion by an independent neurologist. Now he has become available for selection for the third Test against India which will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 7.
Australia’s coach Justin Langer, on Wednesday, revealed that the 22-year-old opener visited a neurologist on Tuesday. The Victorian will now have to impress in the nets to ensure his Test debut; expectedly opening the innings for the hosts in the third Test as the Aussies struggle to find a solution to their top-order batting woes. David Warner, who is also yet to be declared fit for the match following a groin injury during the limited-over series last month, is expected to open the innings alongside Pucovski in the third Test.
“Will saw an independent neurologist, and he has seen a couple now, and I think the real heartening thing for him is whilst he has had a few concussions in the past, and they have come in different ways, it is not necessarily going to have any long-term impact on him.
“I think if you can put your mind at rest with that, then that is a real positive for him. He is in a great frame of mind. He is incredibly positive about playing cricket. He has trained hard this week. As he and I have discussed a number of times, and I am sure other people have, the only way to get back on the horse is to get back on the horse.
“He, ultimately, is the one that has to make the decision. Everyone will have a different opinion on it. He is the one that has got to walk out there and face the short-pitched bowling, whether it be from India or whether it’s from South Australia or whether it’s from Western Australia. He is the one that has got to have the courage to get back on the horse. He wants to do that and that’s a really positive sign moving forward,” Langer said.
Pucovski had suffered a concussion after getting hit on the head while batting in the warm-up game against India last month. It was the 9th time that Pucovksi had suffered the injury after being hit on the head by a short ball in his brief career.
The visitors are set to pepper Pucovski with short balls in a bid to test a technique that former Australian opener Chris Rogers says is up to handling any barrage.
“As he (Pucovski) will say, every team that he has played against has bowled a lot of short-pitched bowling to him. He has practised it, he has hit thousands and thousands and thousands of short balls and he got hit the other day,” Langer said.
