Will Puckovski – From battling mental depression to part of Australia squad for Sri Lanka Tests

Will Puckovski had suffered seven concussions during his playing carerr. He missed six weeks of action in the ongoing Sheffield Shield season. In that period, he had to work on a mental illness that he was suffering from some time. Yet, he has scored plenty of runs in the 2018/19 in the domestic season. His 243 against Western Australia comes at a time when Australia is looking for batsmen to contribute in a side that is struggling to cope with the absence of David Warner and Steve Smith. This is the story of Will Puckovski, a 20-year-old batsman from Victoria who has been included in the side for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

Australian cricket is undergoing a tough phase, having lost a Test series to an Asian nation for the first time at home following their 1-2 series loss against Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team. When being picked up the selection committee, chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said Puckovski’s ability to make centuries was the defining factor. “Pucovski is an exciting young player who is making his mark in the Sheffield Shield. He is another player with a track record of making centuries. We look forward to him joining the squad and congratulate him on his first national call-up,” Hohns said to Cricket Australia’s official website.

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Speaking about the selection, Puckovski said it was a ‘shock’ that he was included. “I am feeling really good. I am feeling as good as I have felt in a really long time. I have met some people along the way that have really helped me turn things around. It's probably no better time to get exciting news like I have in the past 24 hours,” the 20-year-old, averaging 49 in the Sheffield Shield told the Sydney Morning Herald.

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Sri Lanka will play one warm-up game with the Pink Ball which will be against Cricket Australia XI in Hobart. It will be the game where all three players picked in the Australia squad will also feature. The first Test will be in Brisbane from January 24 to January 28 while the second Test will be from February 1 to 5 in Canberra, which will become the newest venue for Tests in Australia.

Australia have lost three consecutive series for the first time since 1985 and they will be aiming to avoid a defeat against a Sri Lanka side who are also struggling for consistency.