Cricket’s unluckiest star set to make a return this summer after horror run of concussions forced him to take mental health break

Will Pucovski will step up his return to cricket after enjoying a stint in England over the UK summer.

Pucovski, 25, has played one Test for Australia despite being widely regarded as a generational talent, with 11 concussions, mental health issues and injury marring his burgeoning career.

The Melbournian batter took a break from cricket in October last year for personal reasons, but has spent the off-season in England, playing for Weybridge in the Surrey League.

According to News Corp, Pucovski will be in Melbourne next week as he eyes a return to first-class cricket ahead of a big summer. 

Victoria play Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield opener on October 4, which has been earmarked as the next key step for Pucovski’s comeback.

Will Pucovski is set to make his return to first class cricket after a series of misfortune

The Aussie young gun regarded as a generational talent has suffered eleven concussions

He played for Australia’s Test team in January 2021, and with David Warner set to retire this summer, Pucovski can make his case to replace the veteran opener.

His close friend and Victoria teammate Sam Harper insisted that Pucovski is due some luck on his return. 

‘As his good mate, fingers crossed that this summer can just be a really smooth one for him and he can be out in the middle banging run after run, which he does best,’ Harper said.

‘He’s loved (England). It’s been good for him to get away, continue playing cricket. Obviously at the back end after that stint with Melbourne and playing some club cricket. Hopefully that can catapult him into playing that first Shield game.’

Pucovski has been working closely with mind coach Emma Murray and previously discussed the psychological nature of playing at the top level. 

Pucovski spent the off-season in Britain playing cricket in the Surrey League

‘You are going to fail a lot in cricket, that happens,’ Pucovski said in an interview about his work with Murray in 2019.

‘But if I am consistent in how I go about it I am giving myself the best chance to succeed.

‘It’s probably just freed me up a bit. I’m not going to base if I failed or succeeded on a personal level just on my result, but how I went about it.’