20-year-old Aussie batsman Will Pucovski to take break from cricket due to mental illness

He is just 20-years-old and has played just seven first-class and four List A games so far since his debut in 2017. However, Victoria’s star batsman Will Pucovski has decided to withdraw from the game for an indefinite break because of mental illness. What is even more shocking is that the right-hand batsman hit 243 in his last match against Western Australia in Perth in a Sheffield Shield game.

On October 26, Cricket Victoria released a statement saying Pucovski was undergoing treatment for mental health related ailments and also sought that his privacy be honoured, cricket.com.au reported. He was left out of the upcoming game against New South Wales this week.

Pucovski already has shown his mettle in first-class cricket

Pucovski has 520 runs in seven first-class games at an average of 52 with two hundreds and the highest score of 243. His other hundred, 188, came in February this year against Queensland in Melbourne. In the List A version, the youngster has 15 runs in four games at an average of 7.50. He is certainly one of those talents that Australia look forward to in the longer format, especially at a time when their batting depths have been seriously dented.

His 243 last week made him just the ninth player to hit a double ton in Sheffield Shield before turning 21. The club has some legendary names like Donald Bradman, Doug Walters, Ian Chappell and Ricky Ponting.

“Will’s health remains our highest priority and Cricket Victoria’s medical staff will continue to provide support to Will during this time,” cricket.co.au quoted Cricket Victoria’s doctor Trefor James as saying.

“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,” Shaun Graf, Cricket Victoria general manager, said.

The news on Pucovski’s mental health will demotivate a lot of people related to Australian cricket for his brilliant start in the domestic circuit had given rise to speculation about his early debut in Tests this summer. Australia will play India in a high-profile four-game series at home this year.

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