Adam Gilchrist gave his views on Australia's mid-series selection rejig after loss in Melbourne.
While doing so to boost the faltering batting unit, the selectors also decided to drop the out-of-form opening batsman Joe Burns after another poor outing in Australia's loss in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
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This raised speculations whether the team will now go into the New Year's Test in Sydney on January 7 with a new opening pair or they'll retain an assured-looking Matthew Wade at the top and ease Pucovski to the set-up by replacing Travis Head in the middle-order with him.
Former wicketkeeper batsman Adam Gilchrist, however, doesn't think Pucovski is yet a sure starter for the SCG despite being in outstanding domestic form before he was sidelined with a blow to his head in the warm-up match against Indians.
Warner, though, he feels will definitely be seen opening the batting in the third Test.
"He (Warner) is very, very close," Gilchrist told Fox Sports News. "The way I look at it, he must have been pretty close to Melbourne the way he rushed down here to make sure he wasn't caught by any border closures but he obviously didn't get up for Melbourne."
"But if he's moving around a lot as we've seen the Australians will have two days training here in Melbourne and then they head up to Sydney so I would expect he will be all right to go. It's just a question of who will be at the other end with him," he added.
On Pucovski specifically, the Aussie legend said, "My natural instinct is that if you bring someone into a squad, a la Pucovski, you're probably going to play him. It may not be that certain."
"They might be bringing him into the squad so he can start getting higher-level practice and be fully engaged with the squad and the high-quality training that goes along with that."
Pucovski might have already made his debut in the first Test in Adelaide had it not been for his ninth instance of going down with concussion.
"Since his blow to the head he hasn't really had any other cricket to go and play, so perhaps they're bringing him in more as cover should something else happen or if they want to play him in the fourth Test," added Gilchrist.
Burns may have not, but Wade has certainly looked good in testing conditions against the Indians. Gilchrist reckons the left-hander has made a very strong case for retention at the top.
"Matt Wade has made a really strong case to stay at the top of the order by way of determination and fight and that natural characteristic that comes through in his game."
"He hasn't capitalised on big runs but I think they'll probably keep Wade at the top with Warner and leave that middle-order as settled as they can."
If Head is also continued with despite inapt scores in the first two Tests, Gilchrist feels he'll have to deliver a strong performance to keep Pucovski at bay for the final Test in Brisbane.
"That'll put the spotlight on Travis Head he'll have to deliver big runs. I don't think he's fallen foul of the selectors just yet, I think they'll show faith in him for at least one more Test match."
"Then if changes need to be made, obviously they'll have Pucovski there with a week of good solid training under his belt with the team. He'll be there for Brisbane if they want to make a change," Gilchrist added.
(With PTI inputs)