Australia has made a huge selection call by picking 20 year old Victorian Batsman Will Pucovski for their Test squad v Sri Lanka, a few of the interesting points of his selection
20 years old
Only 8 First Class Matches
Only 2 First class Hundreds
1st Australian to score 200 before his 21st birthday since Ricky Ponting
Has missed lots of cricket due to 2 or 3 concussions
Has also missed recent matches after suffering from Mental Health issues
It’s very unusual to see Australia make a selection like this, they’ve very much gone for safer options with players who have made lots of first class runs.
It’s also a big call to throw him in now with there only being 2 tests for Australia to play before the biggest stage of all the Ashes.
No doubting he’s a talented young player but I’m concerned about throwing a 20 year old with mental health issues into the fire that is test cricket, yes a home series against a modest Sri Lankan outfit does seem like a good time to blood such a player, but with the Ashes up next surely anyone playing in this series has 1 foot on the plane to England? This Ashes series will be a very hostile one for the Australians, and it will likely be a tough one, from listening to him about his issues I’m concerned how he will handle it.
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Will Pucovski
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ZIMDOGGY wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2019 12:32 pm
He’s talented but too weak. Needs to be discarded.
It’s not going to work. He hasn’t even faced any adversity from a career perspective.
I wonder what his mental issues are.
Agreed.
I hope the guy sorts out his issues, but clearly he's not up to international cricket. What happens if he breaks down on day four of a crucial test match?
Too risky, and as much as CA will say all the right things publicly I reckon behind closed doors they'll be saying the same thing as us.
On a separate note, I do find it a little bit disconcerting that he thinks he can just withdraw from what was looking to be a pretty likely test selection. That rubs me the wrong way a bit, almost like he's saying "I'll play when I'm good and ready - not when you tell me to". Think of the thousands of people who would do anything to represent their country, who would walk through fire to have the opportunities he's had.
Funny how this only seems to happen in western countries too. You don't hear about too many young Indians turning the BCCI down and forgoing the chance to set themselves and their families up for life.
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Some of these responses in relation to something such mental health come across as archaic and destructive as opposed to beneficial.
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BRM must be a tradie because he keeps hitting the nail on the head.
Firstly, I don’t think he should be discarded NOW, but I think he needs to be given a very short leash from here. 1.5 seasons to sort it out, or discarded.
Sometimes (often) pussyfooting around these issues just exarcerbates and enables this type of mentality. Like a social disease in a way, that’s why it’s a western thing and as you said, pakis and Indians or saffers aren’t doing the same.
Relegating him might be the jumpstart wake up call ‘this is life’ moment he needs.
This might sound so random, but I have been looking at a flight for a few days trying to get a good deal, but today, as soon as flights went up I realised how good it was and I had it yesterday so jumped on the one remaining deal that resembled something from yesterday. Snapped me into gear. Same thing. Psychological effect.
Secondly, and more pointedly,
Cricket especially is a sport that’s completely built on mental toughness. More than any other sport.
Might not be said out loud but ongoing Depression and anxiety that stops you from playing is equivalent to not being highly talented. Otherwise why wasn’t Vusi Sibanda averaging 50?in.
In cricket it is all about mental resilience and copping blow after blow and if he hasn’t got it, I don’t care how good his eye is. He’s not made for it.
If this was the NFL he would have just been cut and discarded, never to be seen again.
Ten big exception to all this is if his issues are related to a specific life problem. A family death, a break up etc I don’t think so though as this has been ongoing over a few years as oppose to months, and as Jaybro said, pops up with selection issues.
Thirdly, and I’m getting personal here for perspective. I had the same s**t growing up. I was a talented record breaking athlete but I couldn’t handle the nerves. I would vomit at the thought of competing in public. No matter how calm my head was my body was naseuous. A lot of sports I couldn’t go further because I would be a wreck.
Even now when I go out to bat I’m nauseous but I can control it.
How did I get over it to the point I could compete? I realised I didn’t mean s**t. No one gives a f**k. All eyes aren’t solely focused on me, who am I to think my own importance matters at a track and field meet, Rugby rep or cricket match? See point 1. Ripping the band aid off.
But more than anything, I could never dream of being an international cricketer with my lack of starch in sport. I can deliver a speech in front of hundreds but hard to battle this whilst maintaining fitness, endurance, puffing out etc
Firstly, I don’t think he should be discarded NOW, but I think he needs to be given a very short leash from here. 1.5 seasons to sort it out, or discarded.
Sometimes (often) pussyfooting around these issues just exarcerbates and enables this type of mentality. Like a social disease in a way, that’s why it’s a western thing and as you said, pakis and Indians or saffers aren’t doing the same.
Relegating him might be the jumpstart wake up call ‘this is life’ moment he needs.
This might sound so random, but I have been looking at a flight for a few days trying to get a good deal, but today, as soon as flights went up I realised how good it was and I had it yesterday so jumped on the one remaining deal that resembled something from yesterday. Snapped me into gear. Same thing. Psychological effect.
Secondly, and more pointedly,
Cricket especially is a sport that’s completely built on mental toughness. More than any other sport.
Might not be said out loud but ongoing Depression and anxiety that stops you from playing is equivalent to not being highly talented. Otherwise why wasn’t Vusi Sibanda averaging 50?in.
In cricket it is all about mental resilience and copping blow after blow and if he hasn’t got it, I don’t care how good his eye is. He’s not made for it.
If this was the NFL he would have just been cut and discarded, never to be seen again.
Ten big exception to all this is if his issues are related to a specific life problem. A family death, a break up etc I don’t think so though as this has been ongoing over a few years as oppose to months, and as Jaybro said, pops up with selection issues.
Thirdly, and I’m getting personal here for perspective. I had the same s**t growing up. I was a talented record breaking athlete but I couldn’t handle the nerves. I would vomit at the thought of competing in public. No matter how calm my head was my body was naseuous. A lot of sports I couldn’t go further because I would be a wreck.
Even now when I go out to bat I’m nauseous but I can control it.
How did I get over it to the point I could compete? I realised I didn’t mean s**t. No one gives a f**k. All eyes aren’t solely focused on me, who am I to think my own importance matters at a track and field meet, Rugby rep or cricket match? See point 1. Ripping the band aid off.
But more than anything, I could never dream of being an international cricketer with my lack of starch in sport. I can deliver a speech in front of hundreds but hard to battle this whilst maintaining fitness, endurance, puffing out etc
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