Michael Clarke Warns Australia Against Awarding Will Pucovski The Baggy Green; Says The Youngster Has Done Enough To Earn It

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke was and is amongst those who have backed Will Pucovski to replace Joe Burns for the upcoming Test summer. Will Pucovski has made a compelling case to earn a Baggy Green against India this summer on the back of some heavy run-scoring in the Sheffield Shield. Michael Clarke believes that the 22-year old has done enough to book a berth in the Test side.

Will Pucovski has amassed a tally of 495 runs in three innings for Victoria in Sheffield cricket, which includes two double centuries. In 22 first-class fixtures thus far, the right-handed batsman has 1720 runs at 55.48 with six centuries and five fifties. Incumbent Test opener and Queensland batsman Joe Burns’ form has dipped drastically, managing scores of 7, 29, 0, 10, and 11. Burns, who opened entirely in the 2019-20 Test summer with David Warner, managed two half-centuries in eight innings.

Nevertheless, the Australian think-tank, including coach Justin Langer, Test captain Tim Paine, and Warner have all backed Burns. The trio remains confident that Pucovski will flourish if given a chance; however, believes that Australia did not do much wrong the last summer. The management sees no reason trying to fix what seems unbroken.

Ignore youth at your peril: Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke, who is one of the bravest Australian captains, has labelled Will Pucovski as a player of massive potential and future champion. The retired cricketer believes that the sooner Pucovski gets the opportunity at the highest level, the better he will become. Hence, Clarke believes the management should ignore the youngsters at their peril.

“I think Pucovski has done enough. He’s a player of the future, he’s a potential champion. The sooner he plays and works out what he’s got to do at that level, the sooner he becomes the player we think he can be. My belief has always been and will always be (that) you ignore youth at your peril,” the World Cup winning captain told The Age.

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