Cricket Victoria has near the doorway ajar for rising prima Will Pucovski to play successful the opening Test of the Ashes series, contempt authorities manager Chris Rogers admitting yesterday it was "unlikely".
CV has released an update connected the 23-year-old's betterment from his latest concussion, confirming Pucovski won't play this week's Sheffield Shield lucifer against New South Wales, but CV's wide manager of cricket show Shaun Graf remains hopeful the batter tin play 2 matches earlier the archetypal Ashes Test "to let Australian selectors to marque a judgement."
Rogers said yesterday that Pucovski's delayed instrumentality would astir surely mean he'd beryllium unavailable for the Brisbane Test connected December 8.
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"No uncertainty it's a setback. I'd accidental present it's improbable he'd play successful the archetypal Test," helium said.
The right-hander, who made his Test debut against India past summer, would beryllium favourite to spouse David Warner astatine the apical of the bid if he's fit.
He hasn't played since his lone Test successful Sydney successful January, wherever helium suffered a enarthrosis wounded that required surgery. He was concussed past period aft being deed successful the nets.
Following yesterday's gloomy prognosis from Rogers, today's update provides a glimmer of hope.
"In bully news, Will was backmost astatine Victorian grooming yesterday astatine the MCG," Graf said successful a statement.
"It is large to person him backmost successful the squad, adjacent if lone connected airy duties. That said, helium won't beryllium disposable for enactment for the Shield lucifer starting astatine the MCG connected Friday.
"In presumption of his instrumentality to play, we are moving towards a mates of scenarios. We're presently successful conversations with Cricket Australia regarding different Shield lucifer successful mid-November positive we'll besides beryllium hosting a authorities 2nd XI lucifer astatine the MCG aboriginal successful the month.
"Ideally, he'd beryllium capable to play those 2 four-day matches and let Australian selectors to marque a judgement from there."
Even if Pucovski misses the Brisbane Test, the anticipation remains helium could beryllium added to the Australian squad for the Adelaide match, starting connected December 16, with CV's doc Trefor James conceding Pucovski hasn't yet made a afloat recovery.
"Will is continuing to acquisition immoderate mild symptoms accordant with concussion," helium said.
"From a aesculapian perspective, Will is precise good supported by the squad astir him to assistance negociate his recovery. Given his history, it's evidently important that we let immoderate is clip is required to marque a afloat recovery."
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