Will Pucovski Retires Hurt After Head Knock in Sheffield Shield Match

Victorian cricketer Will Pucovski was forced to retire hurt during the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at Bellerive Oval after being hit by a bouncer from fast bowler Riley Meredith.

Pucovski, facing his second ball, ducked into the rising delivery, resulting in a sickening blow to his helmet, leading to his collapse onto the turf.

Team medics rushed to his aid as Pucovski experienced severe discomfort, with the 26-year-old retching on the ground before walking off the field holding his head.

Retiring hurt for 0, Pucovski was replaced by teammate Peter Handscomb, with a concussion substitute in Campbell Kellaway stepping in for the remainder of the match.

The incident raised concerns for Pucovski’s well-being, given his history of concussion issues throughout his cricket career.

Pucovski, who made his international debut in 2021, has experienced several setbacks due to head injuries, including taking a break from cricket during the 2018/19 season for mental health reasons.

Continuing to battle mental health challenges and concussion issues, Pucovski’s career has been punctuated by periods of absence, despite showing promise as a future star of Australian cricket.

Victoria, chasing a target of 424 against Tasmania, found early success with opener Nic Maddison scoring his third century in as many matches, supported by Marcus Harris‘s strong performance at the crease.