Pucovski to take break from cricket

Star Victorian batsman Will Pucovski will take an indefinite break from the game due to a mental health-related illness.

The 20-year-old scored a magnificent 243 against Western Australia last week, but was left out of this week’s JLT Sheffield Shield match against NSW.

In a statement released on Friday, Cricket Victoria said Pucovski was receiving treatment for a mental health-related illness and asked for his privacy to be respected.

“Will’s health remains our highest priority and Cricket Victoria’s medical staff will continue to provide support to Will during this time,” said Cricket Victoria’s Doctor Trefor James.

Cricket Victoria General Manager Shaun Graf added: “Will is a terrific young player and we need to do what’s best for him at this time. We’ll continue to work with our medical staff to determine the best training and preparation plan to support Will at this time.”

Pucovski’s brilliant innings in Perth last week, his second first-class century in just his seventh match, vaulted him into the conversation for an unlikely Test debut this summer.

At just 20 years and 256 days, he became just the ninth player in Sheffield Shield history to score a double-century before his 21st birthday, joining an elite club that includes Sir Donald Bradman, Ricky Ponting, Doug Walters and Ian Chappell.

The talented right-hander, who dominated at under-age level before making his debut for Victoria, has suffered several concussions during his career that have slowed his progression.

He was hit on the head three times last season having also copped a blow fielding at short leg on his Shield debut in early 2017.

All this after a luckless series of childhood blows that included a sling tackle during a schoolyard football match, a ball ricocheting from an adjoining net during cricket training, and hitting his head on a door in his own house.

Speaking in September, Pucovski spoke of his desire to not only push through his issues with the short ball, but help take Victorian cricket forward.

"Our plan is to take Victorian cricket into the next phase of its existence and success," Pucovski said.

"We're hopeful and aspire to do that – we've joked in conversations about it over the last few months. There's a few blokes towards the end of their careers and a fair few just beginning theirs now.

"We've been talking about how it'd awesome in three to five years if we're the core of the Shield team and the one-day team.

"I won't lie, we'd love to do it. At the same time, there's still a good balance of older, wiser heads to help you out, so it doesn't feel completely foreign as youngsters trying to find our way."

If you or someone you know needs support, visit https://www.beyondblue.org.au/