Australia's upcoming star Will Pucovski opens up about the mental anguish during his double-century knock

Australia named the 13-man squad for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka and expectedly, made a lot of changes after losing to India. While the likes of Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns are the familiar names in the international arena, the selectors dropped a bombshell by picking Will Pucovski who had taken a break from the game after his sensational 243-run knock in October last year.

The cricketer was struggling to cope with his illness even before he played that knock and amazingly, wasn’t ready to get out of his bed in the morning. He had to call his parents and pour his heart out in front of them and didn’t know why and how it was happening to him. Unbeaten at 64 overnight, Pucovski, battling with his mental anguish, smashed the West Australian bowlers in the next five hours and stole all the limelight with one of the best knocks in domestic cricket.

He crafted an immaculate 243 off just 311 balls but little did anyone about what he was going through at that point in time.

Pucovski opens up

Will Pucovski, while talking in a podcast interview with Fox Cricket, revealed his struggles before and during that historic innings and how one of his team coaches, Lachie Stevens, relaxed him in the nets. The cricketer had slept poorly in the night and by no means was even in a position to play.

“It was one of those things where what it looked like from the outside wasn’t quite matching up with what it was on the inside… I was more confused than at any other time in my life. I was 64 not out overnight if I remember. I got to the game to have my pre-morning hit in the nets and pulled one of the coaches, Lachie Stevens, aside and said ‘look mate, this is what I’m going through. I don’t really understand what’s going on and don’t know why it’s happening but this is what’s happening’.

“It was quite a confronting thing but they were beyond awesome about it… They were just so supportive from the outset. I still remember Lachie putting his arm around me and saying ‘Mate, I’m shattered for you and we will get you sorted when you’re back but if you can do anything to get us some runs today that would be great.’ I replied: ‘Don’t worry mate. I will be ready to go and will try my very best.’ Obviously, it turned out to be quite a good day,” Pucovski recalled.

What followed after that conversation is history now. Pucovski went on to plunder 179 more runs before being dismissed and fielded for 25 overs as well. But then he asked for a substitute to come on the field fearing that a drop-catch would hurt the team as he was unable to concentrate.

The 20-year-old is still working hard to get on top of his mental health and meditates every day. The selection in the Australian team now will also help him a long way and hoped that his words would only help others. “I actually look back on it and don’t have much of a recollection on the innings, which is rare for me. Usually, I can remember vividly what I’d done, the innings that I had played or the day’s play I’d been through,” the youngster added.

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