Rogers urges calm after hasty calls for Pucovski's retirement

Victoria coach Chris Rogers has warned it's premature for people to suggest Will Pucovski walk away from top-level cricket in the wake of his latest concussion, but added the luckless batting prodigy faces some "tough questions" as he begins yet another comeback.

Having returned to top-level cricket after a year on the sidelines recovering from shoulder surgery and a further concussion during pre-season training last October, Pucovski cut a desolate figure as he left Adelaide Oval during today's lunch break after what is believed to be the 11th concussion of his young career.

His withdrawal from the Shield match, which ended in a draw thanks to a heroic 148no in almost six hours from Victoria skipper Peter Handscomb, prompted commentators to opine the Test-capped opener should retire given his history (and increasing frequency) of head knocks.

But Rogers, also a former Test opener who suffered several concussions, believes such conjecture is hasty and pledged his team's support for the 24-year-old as he ponders his future in consultation with family, friends and medical specialists in Melbourne.

"It's far too early to be speculating on that," Rogers said tonight when asked if Pucovski should heed calls to foreclose on his first-class cricket aspirations.

"I'm not a doctor, I'm not a specialist in this area so clearly he needs to talk to a few people and from there we'll assess what needs to happen.

"He's not at all unaware of the situation and the noise that surrounds these concussions.

"He's pretty aware of how this was going to play out, from that point of view he was pretty devastated and knows he'll have to face some tough questions over the next period.

"But as a team, we're going to support him with everything he chooses to do.

"It's a really delicate situation with his history and everything he's gone through.

"From here, it's going to be a really important period for Will."

Pucovksi was withdrawn from the game against South Australia early on today's final day after reporting concussion symptoms from a head knock he sustained in the team's morning warm-up.

It is unclear exactly how he suffered the injury, but Cricket Victoria chief executive Nick Cummins confirmed it came during a casual game of 'solleyball' – a hybrid of soccer and volleyball that a number of first-class teams engage in as a means of limbering up before each training session and playing day.

Prior to his much-anticipated return to first-class cricket after more than a year on the sidelines, Pucovski was seen to be heading the lightweight soft rubber ball used in the warm-up routine.

It seemed that despite his history of concussions, both he and team medical staff held few concerns about the potential impact of contact with the balloon-like ball.

But it was soon after the Victoria players returned to the dressing room and readied themselves to take the field in search of SA's final three wickets that Pucovski began to feel the familiar concussion symptoms that worsened when he began fielding in the bright morning sun.

After three balls of the day's first over, two of which he fielded as they were gently struck to him at mid-on, he rested his hands on his knees before calling for a substitute as he returned to the dressing room.

The gifted right-hander was examined by Victoria's physiotherapist and then Cricket Australia doctor-on-duty Geoff Verrall, and it was decided he would be replaced in Victoria's batting line-up by concussion substitute Travis Dean.

Pucovski then left the ground accompanied by Cricket Victoria's General Manager Cricket Performance Shaun Graf to prepare to fly home to Melbourne.

"He just got a slight knock to the head and he seemed okay for a while, he finished the warm-up and then the symptoms started to appear so he started to deteriorate when he back out in the sun and the bright light," Rogers said.

"Then he returned to the rooms and the medical staff got involved and thought that was the right way to go.

"He wanted to see if he could go out and have a hit in the nets, but the symptoms were there and in the end he spoke to the doctor and he felt that, with his history, it probably wasn't worth it.

"And from there it was a case of 'what do we need to do for him?' and management felt it was important to get him back to Victoria where he's well supported.

"He will go home and there will be some specialists he'll speak to that he has previously seen, who are aware of his history.

"So he'll go through that process again.

"He's obviously bounced back from this a number of times, but we'll wait and see and hopefully we'll get some good news."

Rogers also conceded that is there was a positive spin that might be applied to what he acknowledged was "a difficult day for the side", it was the knowledge today's setback was not the result of being struck while batting as has been the cause of Pucovksi's previous couple of concussions.

But that mitigation was balanced out by the reality it was a seemingly innocuous blow to the head that brought about the symptoms Pucovski reported, and which ultimately forced him out of his comeback game with no clear idea of when he might play again.

"I think some people have already passed judgement and are questioning his technique against the short ball," Rogers said.

"From that point of view it didn't happen in the game or in the nets, so that's something you can take a bit of comfort in.

"But equally it's another blow to the head and we're all aware of the ramifications of these things happening."

As if anyone needed reminding of the raw talent of Pucovski, who was named Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year in 2019 and averaged more than 67 per Shield innings prior to his return against SA, it came in the half-century he scored on day two in a 110-run opening stand with Marcus Harris.

Rogers revealed Pucovski had been in high spirits leading up to the game and across the first few days, even joking with his coach and Victoria batting coach Ben Rohrer how he (Pucovski) was a far more attractive batter to watch than either of his now-retired mentors.

"I don't know what goes on behind closed doors but he was presenting well, and he loved being out batting and scoring runs," Rogers said of the young star's demeanour.

"There's never been a worry about how good he is.

"He's one of those players who tends to look like he's got a light sabre in his hand and it's part of his body.

"So it never takes long for him to get into rhythm again, and that's been fortunate given he's been in and out (through injury).

"I don't think that's ever going to be the issue.

"He loves being out in the middle and showing people how good he is, but I guess it's not that simple either.

"There's a lot of other things that have happened in Will's cricketing history that we have to be aware of.

"He's been on a rollercoaster for a number of years now and it can't be easy on him."