The four-match Test series between India and Australia, in December this year, is probably going to be the high-level international series. The reason being the rivalry between the two countries has become intense in the last couple of years. While India will play to retain the trophy, Australia will also play for pride to take revenge for its defeat last year. Both the teams will enter with their best players which is going to make the series fierce.
Former Australian cricketers Ian Chappell, Michael Clarke and Michael Waugh, have recommended a young star of Sheffield Sheild to play against India. And the batsman is Victoria’s Will Pucovski. The youngster has produced successive double hundreds. After an unbeaten 255 last week against South Australia, he scored scoring 202 against Western Australia. So far this season, Pucovski has amassed 457 runs.
Will Pucovski is ready: Clarke
Seeing the youngster’s run-scoring ability in domestic tournaments, Clarke believes that he should be given the opportunity in the Australian team. Acknowledging that India is a big side, the former cricketer is confident that Will Pucovski is ready to play on a big stage.
“Got to pick him … this is a great way to work him into that Australian team,” Clarke said on Sky Sports radio.
“Yeah, it’s against a good team, India, but this kid’s ready … With (David) Warner as his opening partner, (Marnus) Labuschagne as his No.3, (Steve) Smith as his No.4, that’s the leadership and experience you need around you as a young batsman.”
Chappell, who captained Australia between 1971 and 1975, said Pucovski could be a better long-term option than Test opener Joe Burns, who averaged 32 for Australia last summer and had scores of 7, 29, 0, and 10 for Queensland this season.
“Burns has made not many runs at all in this summer and there comes a time where you think to yourself, ‘well, where is Burns going?’,” Chappell told the ABC.
“He’s probably not going anywhere, really, and it’s time to have a look at Pucovski. What’s that now? Six or seven first-class centuries? That includes a couple of doubles. He’s ready,” Chappel said.
Will Pucovski has scored six hundreds in 22 first-class matches at an average of 57.93. Michael Waugh also opined that he would definitely pick the young gun for the first test as the opener and give him further chances.
“I would definitely be picking him for the first Test against India. He should be picked as an opening batsman,” Waugh told foxsports.com.au.”
The first Test will be played under the light on December 17 in Adelaide. The second Test match will be played in Melbourne Cricket Ground from Dec 26 while the third and fourth Test matches will be held in Sydney Cricket Ground (January 7) and Gabba (January 15).