Australian cricketer Pucovski retires amid concussion struggle
Former test batsman Will Pucovski has confirmed his retirement from cricket at the age of 27 as the Australian continues to battle concussion symptoms more than a year after being struck by a ball in a domestic match.
The Melbourne native was once seen as the future of Australian cricket as he made a half-century on his test debut against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2021.
It was to prove his only international match, though, as he suffered a shoulder injury in the field and was never able to break back into the squad due to repeated instances of concussion.
Pucovski confirmed to radio station SEN on Tuesday that he was still suffering symptoms more than a year after being hit in the helmet by a delivery from Tasmania fast bowler Riley Meredith in a Sheffield Shield match in Hobart.
"From there it's been a tough year, a lot of the symptoms didn't go away, which has led me to this decision," said the former Victoria number three, who has battled headaches, dizziness and lethargy.
"It's unfortunately gotten to a stage now where a year or so down the track (I am) still suffering, still don't really have the answers I have been looking for in terms of why I am still getting these symptoms, and it's come time to make this decision."
The setback he suffered against Tasmania was the 13th known instance of concussion over his career which began with huge promise as the right-hander racked up runs in Victoria's top order.
While on the cusp of playing test cricket, Pucovski withdrew himself from selection several times to manage mental health problems linked to concussion.
He told SEN he was still suffering from fatigue and with "things on his left side."
He said his next move would be in coaching with his local team, the Melbourne Cricket Club, which would help soften the blow of never playing again.
"I am 27 and hopefully I have a good life ahead of me ... I don't want to do any more damage to my brain," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
8 hours ago
- Gulf Today
McIntosh crushes 400m freestyle world record
Summer McIntosh smashed the women's 400m freestyle world record in winning the title at the Canadian Swimming Trials in 3min 54.18sec on Saturday, sending a signal for this year's World Championships in Singapore. McIntosh, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and former world record-holder in the event, sliced more than a second off the previous world record of 3:55.38 set by Australian Ariarne Titmus at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. 'Going into tonight I knew that my training has been really good these past few months, and I knew that I could do something special,' the 18-year-old star said. 'I mean, I didn't think my training would be 54.1, but I'm really happy with that overall.' It was McIntosh's first race of the trials in Victoria, British Columbia, selection meet for the worlds in Singapore July 11-August 3. She's entered in seven events, including the 800m free, 400m individual medley, 200m individual medley, 200m free, 200m butterfly and 200m backstroke. She has indicated she aims to compete in five events at worlds. McIntosh won gold in the 200m butterfly 200m medley and 400m medley at the Paris Games and she'll head to Singapore seeking to add to her tally of four world titles. With Titmus taking a season off, she can expect her greatest challenge in the 400m free to come from Katie Ledecky, but after Saturday's showing McIntosh appeared more than up for a clash with the US great. 'To be honest I didn't really feel a lot of pain in that,' she said. 'I just felt so strong throughout and that's never been the case in the 400 freestyle for me. 'The last 100, I'm always really, really hurting, but I flipped up the 200 and I was just cruising, so I knew that I was having a strong swim. 'I could tell by the crowd and the way they were cheering that I was probably close to the world record, so I really tried to push that last part for them,' McIntosh added. Ledecky wins 1,500m freestyle: Nine-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky closed out the US Swimming Championships with her third title of the week on Saturday, winning the 1,500m freestyle to book another event at this year's World Championships in Singapore. Bobby Finke and Gretchen Walsh also grabbed their third wins of the week in Indianapolis, Indiana, to set themselves up for multiple medal campaigns in Singapore. Ledecky clocked 15min 36.76sec to win the 1,500m free by more than 25 seconds. Claire Weinstein, who swam in a different heat of the timed finals was second-fastest in 16:01.96. 'I just wanted to put together a pretty even swim, hold a good pace,' Ledecky told NBC Sports. 'That one hurt, but I'll take it, move on to Singapore,' added the US great, who also won the 400m and a 'really good' 800m free this week and finished second in the 200m free. Ledecky heads to a seventh World Championships aiming to add to her 21 world titles. 'I'm excited,' she said. 'I mean, I have been to a lot of these, but I still feel like I get the same excitement, the same energy from the team.' Agence France-Presse
Int'l Cricket Council
11 hours ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Proteas batters dominate opening day in Zimbabwe warm-up
Ahead of the all-important Ultimate Test against Australia at Lord's in a week, the South Africa players hit the ground running in a warm-up fixture against Zimbabwe in Arundel. Even as the two African sides feature in the practice game, the South African minds were focussed on the Australian challenge ahead. Speaking on the tussle to follow this contest, opening batter Aiden Markram outlined the Proteas' mindset for the World Test Championship Final. "I think it's the collective decision for each guy to bring their best skill. It's going to be a tough game," Markram told ICC Digital. "It's a Test match, of course, against Australia and a Dukes ball, Lord's, all those sorts of things, but ultimately, the guys have a skillset that have got them here, got them selected, throughout the cycle performed as well, doing those skills. "So it's about backing that, our best skill versus their (Australia's) best skill, and we'll see where it lands us at the end of the day." The first day of the encounter was washed out, but the Proteas got much-needed game practice on Day 2. The South Africa batters got a good workout after the side opted to bat in the warm-up clash. Despite losing Aiden Markram for 13 early in the day, the Proteas batting unit picked it up as half-centuries from Ryan Rickelton, skipper Temba Bavuma, and in-form Tristan Stubbs led them to a formidable total of 313/2, following which they declared their innings. Rickelton (62 off 93), Bavuma (58 off 85) and Stubbs (58 off 120) displayed their class with the bat, with a variety of shots catching eyes as the Proteas aim to go all-out to secure their first ICC trophy since 1998. There were suggestions that the Proteas had zeroed in on Wiaan Mulder as their No. 3 batter, with the player walking out after Markram's loss early in the innings. He added 26 runs during his resolute knock at the crease. As several batters opted to retire hurt not out, as many as nine South Africa batters got an opportunity to feature in the first innings. Walking in at six and seven respectively were Tony de Zorzi and David Bedingham, who contributed with 28 and 23 in Arundel. Following South Africa's declaration at 313/2, Zimbabwe's time with the bat got off to a shaky start with Kagiso Rabada getting rid of Brian Bennett for 15. Rabada and Jansen warmed up quite well with the ball, with the duo sharing the opening eight overs and were looking in fine shape as Zimbabwe concluded the day at 48/1 with Nicholas Welch and Sean Williams on the wicket. With two more days of play left, the Proteas will be vying for more valuable time on the field to fine-tune themselves ahead of the challenge against Australia. Scene set for epic World Test Championship Final South Africa and Australia are ready to battle it out in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's from June 11 2025
ARN News Center
20 hours ago
- ARN News Center
Canadian teen shatters 400 metres freestyle record
Canadian three-times Olympic champion Summer McIntosh set a world record in the women's 400 metres freestyle at the Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday. The 18-year-old clocked 3:54.18 to better Australian Ariarne Titmus' mark of 3:55.38 set at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. "Going into tonight, I knew that my training has been really good these past few months, and I knew that I could do something special," McIntosh told public broadcaster CBC. "So being able to input my training in doing that - I didn't think my training would be 54.1 but I'm really happy with that." At the Paris Olympics, McIntosh became the first athlete from Canada to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games. In Paris, the four-times World Aquatics champion won gold in the 400 metres individual medley, 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley, as well as taking silver in the 400 freestyle. But things felt different at the Canada trials. "I just felt so strong throughout, and that's never been the case in the 400 freestyle for me. That last 100, I'm always really, really hurting. "But I flipped at the 200 and I was just cruising, so I knew that I was having a strong swim. I could tell by the crowd and knew the way they were cheering that I was probably close to the world record. "So I really tried to push that last part for them."
