Melbourne: Australian batsman Will Pucovski on Tuesday announced his retirement from professional cricket, following a recommendation from a panel of medical experts.
The 27-year-old’s decision brings an end to a career marked by repeated concussions, which ultimately curtailed his promising journey at the top level.
The right-hander suffered several head knocks throughout his career, with the most recent incident occurring in March 2024 during a Sheffield Shield match. Pucovski was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the helmet, ruling him out for the remainder of the Australian summer and prompting him to withdraw from a contract with Leicestershire ahead of the 2024 English season.
Confirming his decision in an interview published on ICC website, Pucovski said, "I’m not going to be playing cricket again. It’s been a really difficult year to put it as simply as possible."
"I’d need a few hours, I think, to take you through the whole journey … but the simple message is I won’t be playing cricket at any level again," he added.
Pucovski, who played a solitary Test for Australia against India at Sydney during the 2020-21 series, made scores of 62 and 10 in that appearance. Despite the brief stint at the international level, he earned wide praise for his technique and temperament.
A gifted top-order batsman, Pucovski featured in 36 first-class matches, amassing 2,350 runs at an average of 45.19, including seven centuries. However, recurring head injuries severely disrupted his career, leading a medical panel last year to advise retirement in the interest of his long-term health.
"There’s been an illustrious group of one-Test players. Unfortunately, that’s where my journey ends," Pucovski said, reflecting on his premature exit from the game.
