Pucovski's Cricket Future on Hold Due to Lingering Concussion Symptoms

A decision on Will Pucovski's participation in competitive cricket has been postponed after Cricket Australia (CA) granted Victoria an exempted status from his contract for “medical reasons”. This was because of his failure to return to normal following a prolonged condition of concussion in March.

Victoria in 2024-25 has already offered Pucovski a deal but the medical commission made CA withhold the assent until the outcome of the assessment by a joint medical board is made which will include the members of CV, CA, and independent medical experts.

This is a session that will pull the curtains of his life and will help him to visualize the future. This is because of the undue number of concussions that he has recorded in his profession. The forthcoming session of the panel was postponed on the grounds that Pucovski is still experiencing concussion symptoms six weeks after the March incident. However, it's now been informed that his symptoms have mercifully eased.

Pucovski got hit in the head when he took an evasive action during a bouncer from Riley Meredith that came his way during the Victoria's meeting with Tasmania, that happened in Hobart on March 3. It was that very blow that terminated his domestic season in Australia and made him drop off from his spell with Leicestershire, his county championship side.

"Understandably there will be a lot of interest in Will Pucovski and what the future holds," Manou explained. Will's health and well-being are the most crucial aspects of this procedure. Cricket Victoria is actively collaborating with Cricket Australia and the professional medical team that will convene shortly to examine Will's medical background. We'll follow their recommendations on the best course of action for this season."

Pucovski statement in Vic State Cricket podcast:

"I kind of correlate the mental health issues with my first concussion, which occurred when I was around 15 or 16 years old,". "Over the course of seven or eight years, the symptoms of several concussions I had truly never went away.

"You simply get accustomed to having them, in a sense. The brain is an incredibly adaptive structure. Throughout a span of seven or eight years, I consistently failed concussion tests in the same manner, irrespective of whether I had sustained a head injury.

"For me, the problem with my mental health has been far more serious than my concussions.

"My mental health has been the more difficult aspect; I don't fear about my long-term health.

I'll be able to share my entire tale eventually, and it will probably make a lot more sense. When I share my experiences with my close friends and family, they often say things like, "Jesus, I never would have guessed that in a million years—that doesn't even make sense to me."

"It hasn't made sense to me for years, either, but I've been on this pathway to understand it all."

Victorian contract list 2024-2025:

Liam Blackford, Scott Boland (CA contract), Dylan Brasher, Josh Brown, Ashley Chandrasinghe, Xavier Crone, Sam Elliott, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell (CA), Cameron McClure, Jono Merlo, Todd Murphy (CA), Fergus O'Neill, Mitch Perry, Will Pucovski (pending medical advice), Tom Rogers, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Will Sutherland, Douglas Warren.

Following some recent departures, Victoria's contract list included some new names. Shield-winning captain Travis Dean has not received a contract offer following his inclusion in the team during the previous season, while Nic Maddinson has returned to New South Wales for family reasons. Wil Parker, a legspinner, also no longer has a contract.

Harry Dixon, the Australian Under-19 World Cup winner, has also been named by Victoria to the rookie list. Thanks to his outstanding Under-19 results, Dixon came very close to signing a deal last year.

After striking 79 not out in a tour match against Pakistan last year, Dylan Brasher, a fellow left-hander, was awarded a full contract. He also excelled in Premier Cricket for his club, Footscray, and put up solid Second XI performances for Victoria.