Former Australia batter Will Pucovski has hung up his boots at 27, fearing brain damage. The young opener, while announcing his retirement, said that he does not want to “risk doing any more damage” to his brain after suffering repeated concussions in his short career.
Pucovski made just one Test appearance, scoring 62 against India in Sydney in 2021. He couldn’t continue in the match and subsequently in the series after injuring his shoulder later in the match.
Pucovski’s concussion history
The right-handed batter has been unfortunate with head injuries in his career, suffering an astonishing 12 known concussion injuries during his career. In his last competitive match in March 2024, Pucovski was hit by a bouncer off the bowling of Riley Meredith in a Sheffield Shield match between Victoria against Tasmania.
Pucovski opened up on “scary” after-effects from that incident.
“I just don’t want to risk doing any more damage to my brain than I’ve already done,” he told Australian radio station SEN., external
“At 27, I have so much ahead of me and I have so many things I want to achieve in my life. I wanted to play another 15 years, and that gets taken away, which is bad enough.
“At least I know I won’t get hit in the head again, but when the symptoms are ongoing it’s frightening.
“I know what I was like before these concussions and I know what I am now. My family and friends have noticed a difference in me and that’s scary for me and for them.”
Pucovski has been named the head coach, external of the Melbourne Cricket Club. He made his first-team debut in 2015 at the same club that plays in Victoria’s Premier Cricket league.
11 years ago, Pucovski’s Aussie compatriot, Phil Hughes, tragically died after being hit by a bouncer. Since his tragic demise, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has strengthened the safety guidelines to prevent any such tragedy in future. The ICC has added back flaps on the helmet, the absence of which was one of the major factors in Hughes’ death.
According to new rules, players are allowed to be substituted if someone suffers from a concussion during the game.
The right-handed batter has been unfortunate with head injuries in his career, suffering an astonishing 12 known concussion injuries during his career. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
