Former Australia Test opener Will Pucovski has announced that he is retiring from all kinds of cricket with immediate effect, citing his struggles with concussions.  

 

The decision comes after a panel of experts recommended he retire from professional cricket after suffering a series of concussions throughout his career. Pucovski has been hit on the head multiple times during his playing days, with the most recent concussion occurring in March 2024.

 

During a Sheffield Shield match in March, Pucovski was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the helmet by a delivery. The injury ruled him out for the remainder of the Australian summer and led to his withdrawal from his contract with Leicestershire for the 2024 English summer, according to ICC reports.

 

The 27-year-old said on Tuesday morning on SEN's Whateley program: "I wish I was coming in under better circumstances. I'm not going to be playing cricket again. It's been a really difficult year, to put it as simply as possible. The simple message is, I won't be playing at any level again." 

 

Reflecting on his career, he added, "After that century in Sydney (in my second last game), I thought from a personal point of view things were starting to click for me. I put a mountain of effort into getting things right off the field to be good on the field."

 

Pucovski had been recommended to retire by a medical panel last year after repeated concussion incidents. He played 36 First-Class matches, scoring seven centuries and nine fifties, including a top score of 255 not out against South Australia in 2020.

 

His sole Test appearance came during the 2020/21 season against India, where he scored 62 and 10 in his two innings.

 

While retiring from playing, Pucovski is set to remain involved in cricket as the head coach of the Premier Cricket side Melbourne, the club where he made his First XI debut as a teenager in the 2014/15 summer. "It's definitely something that I'm really passionate about. I'm going to be coaching the MCC (Melbourne Cricket Club) next year, which is really exciting. It's always felt like a second home to me, and I've always felt the love and support from the MCC while playing at higher levels or playing for them," Pucovski said.

 

He further expressed his enthusiasm for coaching, stating, "I've been around there since I was 11 or 12 with their junior academy and all the way through. Coaching is always something that I've always wanted to scratch that itch with. I'm really excited to give that a go and see where it takes me."

 

Pucovski's decision to retire marks the end of a promising career that was unfortunately cut short by injury, but he remains committed to contributing to the game in a new capacity as a coach.