Will Pucovski
Will Pucovski (Credits: Twitter)

Australian cricket team will want all their holes plugged ahead of their gruelling home Test series against India and former greats have backed Will Pucovski to take one of the positions. Victorian batsman Will Pucovski found himself in the Test squad a couple of times; however, owing to mental stress, he opted out. Former Australian cricketers believe Will Pucovski could replace Joe Burns at the top.

The 22-year old has hit the top gear in the ongoing Sheffield Shield competition, producing successive double centuries. The right-handed batsman followed his unbeaten 255 against South Australia last week with another 202 runs against Western Australia to stake a claim for the Baggy Green. So far in 22 first-class games, Will Pucovski has 1480 runs at 51.03 with six centuries and five fifties.

Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke (Credits: Twitter)

World Cup-winning captain Michael Clarke underlined that it would be an excellent way to draft him in the team now. Clarke acknowledges that Will Pucovski would be facing a top-notch Indian side; however, he highlighted that the youngster should bat with David Warner at the top. The likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith will follow, which is excellent for a rookie cricketer.

Got to pick him. This is a great way to work him into that Australian team. Yeah, it’s a good team, against India, but this kid’s ready. With Warner as his opening partner, Labushcagne as his number three, Smith as his number four, that’s the leadership and experience you need around you as a young batsman,” Clarke told Sky Sports.

Ian Chappell, who has served as Australia’s skipper and is a renowned commentator, highlighted that Queensland batsman Joe Burns has not been in good nick this summer and could be sidelined for a while to have a glance at Pucovski. Chappell feels that the Victorian’s imposing first-class record indeed deserves that he is ready to don the Baggy Green Cap.

Burns has not made many runs at all this summer and there comes a time where you think to yourself ‘well, where is Burns going’? He’s probably not going anywhere, really, and it’s time to have a look at Pucovski. What’s that now? Six or seven first-class centuries? That includes a couple of doubles. He’s ready,” Chappell told the ABC

I would definitely pick Will Pucovski for the first Test against India: Mark Waugh

Mark Waugh, Big Bash League 2019/20
Mark Waugh. Credits: CA

Former Australian opener Mark Waugh accepts that Burns has done decently at the Test level; however, the 2019-20 summer went by without him producing a big score. Waugh claims that Burns has left the door open for a youngster to take his place and that Will Pucovski surely deserves a look for the first Test in Adelaide.

I would definitely be picking him for the first Test against India. He should be picked as an opening batsman. Joe Burns has got a decent enough record but his start to the season hasn’t been ideal and he just hasn’t nailed that spot down. Last summer he looked good at times without making the big score and he has just left the door open for a younger player or an in-form player to pop in there,” Waugh told foxsports.com.au.

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