Cricket greats Ian Chappell and Michael Clarke have batted for the inclusion of young opener Will Pucovski in Australia’s Test team for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.
Playing for Victoria, Pucovski is having a great time in the ongoing Sheffield Shield. He has aggregated 457 runs so far this season, including two successive double hundreds.
According to Clarke, the 22-year-old must be handed a Test cap against India during the four-Test series, starting January 17 in Adelaide.
“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.”
Sharing his two cents, Chappell 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.”
Pucovski has hit six hundreds in 22 first-class matches at an average of 57.93. No wonder, former Australian batsman Mark Waugh also backed the youngster for the opening slot.
“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.
“Joe Burns has got a decent enough record but his start to the season hasn’t been ideal and he just hasn’t nailed that spot down.
“Last summer he looked good at times without making the big score and he has just left the door open for a younger player or an in-form player to pop in there.”
(With PTI inputs)
