SOMETIMES hope is the biggest thing we have in this world.
From a sporting perspective, my hope is Will Pucovski still has a cracking international cricket career. I say hope because I’m fearful of his long-term future following yet another concussion last week.
That now marks at least 10 times he’s suffered the injury, a cruel blow for such a prodigious young talent, and as much of a good bloke by all reports.
We’ve already seen him miss significant time through head knocks and shoulder injuries and while most fans, especially Victorians, would love to see him regularly donning the baggy green, he’s now got some real decisions to make.
Some later reports believe Pucovski seems to have recovered relatively well from this knock and that’s a brilliant sign, but I think you have to take a cautious approach with him going forward.
Physical and mental health are so important and we’ve already seen and heard from recent research that the cumulative effects of multiple concussions mean the recovery takes longer after each one.So if that’s the case, where does it leave selection for the openers’ positions?
Not that Davey Warner is in the best nick himself at the moment, but especially on the hard wickets of home, you can’t not pick him.
What makes it hard is no one from Victoria or NSW have played any cricket at all so far due to lockdown restrictions so they haven’t had the chance to audition, and while some centuries have been scored, it’s been at batsmen friendly wickets in Adelaide, which needs to be taken into consideration.
Seemingly there’s two spots up for grabs, one at the top of the order and at No.5, with Matty Wade having occupied the latter position but looking increasingly unlikely to retain that position.
Travis Head has become the frontrunner to return to that slot following a brilliant 162 in the opening Shield game and a breathtaking 230 in the subsequent one-day fixture.
The incumbent opener, albeit without Test cricket for over nine months, is Pucovski’s Vic teammate Marcus Harris, who appears to be in the box seat should his young teammate not get up. While he never had the break-out innings to solidify himself as an must-pick player and averages 23 at Test level, he scored 695 runs at an average of 63 last season. While he hasn’t featured for Australia in any format for almost two years, Usman Khawaja has well and truly put his hand up for selection following his 174 for Queensland in the second innings of their match against Western Australia.
Sure he’s 34 and has had ample opportunities at Test level, mostly at No.3, but he is a class player and versatile enough to bat anywhere. With options looking thin it might be the best choice.
If you wanted to go out on a limb, WA’s Sam Whiteman and Queenslander Bryce Street have had decent form, but it looms as a massive risk for such an important series.
The selection panel of Justin Langer, George Bailey and the newly appointed Tony Dodemaide will no doubt be putting plans together as we speak.
Nick nack, Patty whack
WHILE Ben Simmons is perhaps being the most talked about Australian basketballer right now for all the wrong reasons, let’s put his petulance aside and focus on our favourite.
And wowee, did Patty Mills make an epic start to life at the Brooklyn Nets in the new NBA season. After helping the Boomers to their first Olympic medal at the Tokyo Games, the 33-year-old turned out in the black and white of his new team. Mills tied the NBA record for the most three pointers hit on debut for a team with seven from seven, as well as equalling the franchise record for the most three-pointers scored after starting on the bench.
The Aussie gun was brilliant, although some magic was probably missing from the performance only by the way of the Nets playing away in Milwaukee against the Bucks, so the home crowd wasn’t exactly noisy for him. The NBA faithful have taken notice however, especially with Kyrie Irving out of action due to his current COVID-19 vaccination stance. That can only mean more court time for Mills.
There is plenty to look forward to on the Australian front as well, especially if you’re like myself and a new fan to the competition.
While Aron Baynes will now miss the entire season with the neck injury he suffered at the Olympics, we will hopefully see plenty of action for recent draft pick 6 Josh Giddey at Oklahoma City Thunder.
The 18-year-old, who is the second youngest player in the NBA, showed tremendous form in pre-season action and, fingers crossed, hopefully he’ll get a chance to show it on the big stage too.
