Pucovski left out of Shield side but will make second XI return

Will Pucovski could yet return to first-class cricket this season despite Victoria leaving the prodigious batter out for their crucial Marsh Sheffield Shield match this week on medical advice.

Following a match-winning 73 for his club team on Saturday, Pucovski faces a gradual return to top-flight cricket after being named in the Vics' second XI side to face Tasmania in Melbourne's western suburbs from Monday.

The 24-year-old was pushing for a return to Shield cricket following a concussion in Adelaide last month – in what was his maiden first-class appearance in more than a year – which saw him substituted out of the match.

He has since returned to batting in the the nets with Victoria's senior group, where he has faced the squad’s frontline Shield bowlers, as well as two matches in Premier Cricket for Melbourne.

Pucovski opened the batting for the Demons with close friend Sam Harper on the weekend, occupying the crease for two-and-half hours before being run out as he led a successful run chase over Camberwell.

The last of Pucovski's four boundaries was a swift hook off his nose, but Cricket Victoria suggested they are taking a cautious approach.

"Pucovski remains under active medical management by Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia doctors but has been cleared to return for club side Melbourne as well as for the Victorian Second XI," CV said in a statement.

"No timeline has been set for a return to the senior squad."

With Marcus Harris and Scott Boland both in Pakistan for Australia's Test tour, the recalled James Seymour will open the batting for Victoria’s Shield side while fellow batter Jake Fraser-McGurk along with fast bowlers Henry Thornton and Cameron McClure have also been named in a 13-player squad.

The second-placed Vics face Tasmania at the Junction Oval from Tuesday and could seize top spot on the standings with a victory ahead of travelling to Perth for their final regular-season match against Western Australia later this month.

Pucovski will take on Tasmania’s second XI in Footscray at Merv Hughes Oval and could make a Shield return for the trip to Perth.

Men's team coach Chris Rogers has previously suggested calls for Pucovski to walk away from high-level cricket after his most recent concussion setback were premature.

As usual, there were few questions about Pucovski’s batting in his comeback game last month. The right-hander scored a first-innings half century to see his healthy first-class average swell to 53.42 from 39 innings, an uncommonly high mark for a young Australian batter.

But a warm-up mishap on the final day involving a volleyball saw him display concussion symptoms while fielding in the drawn encounter at Adelaide Oval.

Pucovski has now had at least 11 separate concussion incidents during his life.

"He's been through a lot," Rogers said this week. "We all know he's had a lot of challenges and we're working with him … and he's got a lot of support around that.

"He was cleared by the medical staff to play for Melbourne in Premier Cricket and then to play in the Second XI.

"We'll keep monitoring that closely and you never know what might happen. It's just great to see him playing cricket."

Tasmania’s Shield side will be captained by Matthew Wade with Beau Webster missing due to injury. Nathan Ellis is also being managed, but the Tigers will be bolstered the returns of Ben McDermott and Tim Ward after the pair recovered from COVID-19.

Victoria Sheffield Shield squad: Peter Handscomb (c), Travis Dean, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Jon Holland , Nic Maddinson, Cam McClure, Todd Murphy, James Pattinson, Mitch Perry , James Seymour, Will Sutherland, Henry Thornton

Tasmania Sheffield Shield squad: Matthew Wade (c), Tom Andrews, Jackson BirdJake Doran (wk), Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Sam Rainbird, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Jordan Silk, Tim Ward, Mac Wright

Victorian second XI squad: Mackenzie Harvey (c), Ashley Chandrasinghe, Xavier Crone, Zak Evans, Joshua Garner, Jonathan Merlo, Tom O’Connell, Fergus O’Neill, Wil Parker, Will Pucovski, Tom Rogers, Patrick Rowe

Tasmania second XI squad: Mitch Owen (c), Gabe BellIain Carlisle, Jonothan Chapman, Charlie Eastoe (wk), Dylan Hay, Ben Manenti, Samuel O'Mahoney, Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Cameron Valente, Eamonn Vines, Mac Wright