Will Pucovski, the Australian cricketer who only managed to play one Test match during his four-year career, has decided to retire due to ongoing issues with concussions. Unfortunately, this medical problem has troubled him numerous times, repeatedly interrupting his progress in the sport. Pucovski made the announcement that he is stepping back from cricket eight years after he first kicked off his career in 2017, a decision he described as a huge disappointment.
At just 27 years old, Pucovski only got to play one Test match in 2021 when he faced India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He had been recognized as a bright prospect who could have cemented his place at the top of the batting order for the Australian Test team. His talent was evident during his impressive first-class performances for Victoria, especially since he started playing at a young age.
Sadly, he hasn’t played in the last year because he suffered a serious concussion during a Sheffield Shield game after a hit from pace bowler Riley Meredith. In an interview with SEN Radio, Pucovski expressed that he wishes the circumstances were different. He candidly shared, “I won’t be playing cricket again. This past year has been really tough for me.” He went on to say that it would take a lot of time to unpack everything he’s gone through but emphasized that he’s done with playing cricket at any level.
"I won't be playing cricket at any level again." 😢
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) April 8, 2025
Will Pucovski's retirement announcement with @GerardWhateley. 👇@WhateleySEN | #Cricket pic.twitter.com/8KCt41puqX
Pucovski will transition into a coaching role, as the Victorian Premier team in Melbourne has announced him as their head coach. He also has a commentary gig lined up with Channel Seven, so while his playing career is over, he’s not stepping away from the sport entirely. Many fans and experts see his departure from playing as a significant loss for Australian cricket, especially considering he scored 62 runs in his debut match against India four years ago.
Looking at his first-class stats, Pucovski tallied up an impressive 2,350 runs from 36 matches, with an average that stands out at 51.4 in the Sheffield Shield. His last notable performance came in February 2024, when he hit 131 runs against New South Wales, a game that featured well-known bowlers like Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, and Chris Tremain.
He was part of the 2019 Victoria Sheffield Shield-winning team, and he shares a record for the highest partnership in the history of the tournament with Marcus Harris. Their unforgettable stand of 486 runs against South Australia in October 2020 is still talked about today. While it’s clearly a sad end to Pucovski’s time as a player, his future in coaching and commentary may help keep him connected to the game he loves.
