WillPucovski

Victorian youngster Will Pucovski has been touted as a future Test star ever since he broke the record for the most runs ever at an Under-19 National Championships, eclipsing the likes of Ricky Ponting.

The right-hander quickly made his mark at first-class level, scoring his maiden century in early 2018 in only his fourth game for Victoria – a score of 188 against Queensland – just weeks after his 20th birthday.

A double century against WA early the following season put him in the frame for a Test debut, but a mental health battle and several concussions in the years that followed dented his progress.

He opened the 2020-21 Shield season in record-breaking fashion, scoring 255no and 202 in consecutive innings to storm back into Test calculations, the first knock coming as part of a 486-run stand with Marcus Harris against South Australia, the biggest partnership in Shield history.

He was on track for a Test debut against India that summer before he was ruled out by yet another concussion, but he returned to the Australian squad later in the series.