Pucovski century opens new selection options for Aussies

There might only have been a scattering of spectators at Glenelg Oval to witness Will Pucovski's arrival as a first-class opener but among them was perhaps the most influential cricket watcher in Australia.

Trevor Hohns, chair of the national selection panel that will convene in the next week or so to finalise an expanded squad for the four-Test Vodafone Series against India, was sat in a makeshift tarpaulin tent set up on the concrete terraces that provided fleeting shelter from the spring chill.

Hohns is in Adelaide to cast an eye over the current round of Marsh Sheffield Shield fixtures and could hardly have been more impressed with what he saw from the 22-year-old who scored an assured century in his first outing at the top of the order.

So dominant was Pucovski, who has been on the cusp of Test selection for the past two summers, he outscored his senior partner – ex-Test opener Marcus Harris – for much of the pair's near flawless first-wicket stand. But it was Harris that reached 200 first as Pucovski finished on 199 as the pair piled up 418 without loss by stumps on day two against South Australia.

It was Victoria's first 200-plus opening partnership since Harris and Nic Maddinson – coincidentally in their first Shield appearance as a first-wicket pair – plundered 220 against the hapless SA attack at the start of the previous Marsh Sheffield Shield season.

Pucovski also posted a ton in that game, batting at number three.

Today's run-fest also represents the highest tally by a Victoria opening combination in Shield cricket since Matthew Elliott and Jason Arnberger piled on 353 against Tasmania at Punt Road Oval in 1999.

It can only enhance Pucovski's chances of being named in the upcoming Test squad that might extend to as many as 18 names, given the additional complexities caused by the ongoing COVID19 restrictions.

Hohns had arrived at Glenelg Oval before the Victoria pair resumed this morning at 0-38, having spent yesterday at Karen Rolton Oval and Park 25 watching other top-order Test aspirants the likes of Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne (Queensland) and Cameron Green (WA).

But he had been an interested viewer on the cricket.com.au live-stream coverage of the Victoria-South Australia game yesterday evening when Pucovski and Harris negotiated a potentially tricky 14-over stint against the new ball with nary a false stroke.

And while the shift of Pucovski to the top of the order might have surprised some, it was not so much of a shock to Hohns who is understood to have learned of the young gun's interest in opening the batting last season.

The surfeit of specialist openers in Victoria's squad – Harris has previously shared the role with Maddinson, Travis Dean, Matt Short and Eamonn Vines – has meant Pucovski has routinely batted at number three in addition to stints at four and five.

When the option of opening was put to him by recently appointed Victoria coach Chris Rogers, Pucovski welcomed the chance and emphatically stated his case at his first attempt.

From the moment he faced the first ball of Victoria's innings, the right-hander middled everything and scored freely all round the wicket.

He was especially strong through cover point as he punched with impunity when SA's seamers dropped marginally short, and was similarly impressive off his pads when the quicks targeted his stumps on a pitch that flattened out and offered little in the way of seam movement or bounce.

The only time Pucovski appeared troubled was shortly after he reached his half-century – with a flick to the mid-wicket fence off Chadd Sayers – and the Redbacks' fastest bowler Wes Agar peppered him with bouncers.

With fielders stationed in catching positions at leg gully and square leg, Pucovski found himself fending several balls awkwardly from in front of his face but always managed to maintain sufficient control to preserve his wicket.

What Hohns surely noticed was the technical changes Pucovski has made to his game over the winter break that has seen him become more 'closed' in his stance, which has also tightened his defensive game while not impacting his scoring capabilities.

As he reached the 90s, and Victoria closed in on SA's day one total of 200 without the loss of a wicket, rival skipper Travis Head tried to dry up Pucovski's run-making options by placing four fielders between point and mid-off on the off-side.

With allrounder Liam Scott bowling a nagging back-of-a-length line outside off stump, Pucovski was forced to bide his time in pursuit of his fifth first-class century.

On 97 he offered a rare half-chance when he lifted Scott to the right of Lloyd Pope at mid-wicket, but the SA spinner's feet slipped from beneath him as the ball sailed past.

Shortly after, Pucovski reached his milestone – and his maiden Shield ton as an opener – by tucking Pope to deep mid-wicket to the warm applause of his teammates huddled in the boundary-side bunker.

And to the silent acclaim of Hohns, who departed Glenelg Oval at tea to return to the other matches in progress closer to the heart of Adelaide, doubtless in possession of a mental note for the upcoming selection meeting.