[WATCH]- Will Pucovski Retires Hurt Again After Being Hit On The Helmet During A Sheffield Shield Match

Highly promising batsman Will Pucovski faced another setback with concussions, being compelled to retire hurt after a bouncer struck him during the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Tasmania in Hobart on Sunday, March 3.

Coming in to bat at No. 3, Pucovski encountered the blow on the second delivery of his innings. Riley Meredith, the right-arm pacer, delivered a sharp, short ball that Pucovski attempted to avoid but couldn’t duck, causing the ball to hit his helmet and leading to the batter collapsing to the ground instantly.

After the impactful blow, the umpires and players promptly summoned the medical team to assist Pucovski, who was visibly distressed. Recognizing his inability to continue, he left the field in the company of the medical team, necessitating the entry of Peter Handscomb as the next batsman.

You can watch the video here:

https://x.com/trent_kniese/status/1764133316478034254?s=46

“Will is currently in the hands of our medical professionals. We’ll look to provide an update in due course,” Cricket Victoria confirmed to Fox Cricket in a statement.

Will Pucovski, who had recently notched up an impressive 131 against New South Wales, was aiming for an uninterrupted run of matches without any unfortunate incidents.

Will Pucovski was also compelled to retire hurt in a Victorian Second XI match back in January

In January, Pucovski experienced another head injury while playing for Victoria’s second XI against South Australia. At that time, he was batting at 42 when a bouncer from David Grant hit him.

Despite resuming his innings after consultation with the medical team, he ultimately had to retire hurt on 43. Pucovski had opted for a six-week hiatus during the 2018-19 home summer, citing mental health concerns.

He eventually made his much-anticipated international debut in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Pucovski has openly acknowledged the possible connection between his struggles with mental health and the recurring issues with concussions.

“The concussions have masked the bigger issues, and that’s the mental health stuff. The mental health has been a much bigger issue for me than even the concussions. I don’t fear for my long-term health, it’s more the mental health side that’s been the tougher part,” Pucovski told Vic State Cricket podcast.

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