Victoria retains Pucovski, faces imminent medical check-up

Talented young opener Will Pucovski included in Victoria’s 28-player squad for summer 2024-25 amid uncertainty over his future.

Big Bash sensation Josh Brown earned his first state contract in Victoria and the state also confirmed Will Pucovski would remain on the contract list for next season, pending medical advice.

Pucovski’s future has been in limbo since he suffered another concussion in March when he was forced to retire injured against Tasmania after being hit by speedster Riley Meredith.

The 26-year-old has not played since and was forced to withdraw from a planned county season with Leicestershire, where Victorian team-mate Marcus Harris took his place and scored a superb double century last month.

Cricket Victoria said they were working closely with Cricket Australia and that a medical panel of experts will meet in the coming weeks to review Pucovski’s history and discuss his future.

“Understandably, there is a lot of interest in Will Pucovski and what the future holds – the most important part of this process is Will and his health and wellbeing,” said Graham Manou, CV’s Managing Director of High Performance.

“Cricket Victoria is working closely with Cricket Australia and the expert medical panel that will meet soon to review Will’s history.

“We will take the advice of that panel on the appropriate path forward this season.”

Men’s Victoria Contract List 2024-25: Liam Blackford, Scott Boland*, Dylan Brasher, Josh Brown, Ashley Chandrasinghe, Xavier Crone, Sam Elliott, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell*, Cameron McClure, Jono Merlo, Todd Murphy*, Fergus O ‘Neill, Mitch Perry, Will Pucovski**, Tom Rogers, Matt Short*, Peter Siddle, Will Sutherland, Douglas Warren. Newbies: Austin Anlezark, Harry Dixon, Jai Lemire, Reiley Mark, Tyler Pearson

In itself: Josh Brown (Queensland). Liam Blackford, Dylan Brasher, Douglas Warren (upgraded from rookie contracts)

Departures: Travis Dean (delisted), Matt Fotia (delisted), Nic Maddinson (NSW), Tom O’Donnell (delisted), Wil Parker (delisted)

*Indicates Cricket Australia contract
**Pending medical advice

Having lost star batsman Nic Maddinson, who scored three consecutive centuries in the second half of the Marsh Sheffield Shield season, with the left-hander returning home to NSW, the Vics have turned to new Melbourne Renegades recruit Brown to fill a batting deficit in their squad for next season.

The 30-year-old power hitter signed a two-year deal to join the Renegades from the Heat last month and will now move to Melbourne full-time.

While Brown lit up the KFC BBL|13 finals with an impressive 57-ball 140 to put the Heat into the decider, he has only played one List A match since bursting onto the scene in January 2023.

Victoria hopes her form for Northern Suburbs in Queensland Premier Cricket, where she has hit two hundred and five half-centuries reaching over 100 in the two-day format over the last two seasons, can translate into some Marsh One-Day. Cup and potentially a first-class success.

The Vics have also locked in rising star Fergus O’Neill on a three-year deal after a combined 52-wicket season in both competitions to secure Bill Lawry and Dean Jones medals as their Sheffield Shield and All-Around player. one day season.

Australia’s Under-19 World Cup opener Harry Dixon earned a rookie contract after also signing with the Renegades last season, while Shield captain Will Sutherland and fellow quicks Mitch Perry and Cameron McClure also re-signed .

Alongside Dixon, promising young players Reily Mark, Austin Anlezark, Jai Lemire and Tyler Pearson have all secured rookie contracts, while Liam Blackford, Dylan Brasher and spinner Douglas Warren, who made his first-class debut in November, have promoted to full contracts.

Cricket Victoria director of men’s cricket David Hussey said he hoped to build on the growth of the past three seasons.

“Although we didn’t win titles last season, there were some real positives for us: the emergence of Fergus O’Neill as a key player in our team and the selections of Will Sutherland and Matt Short for Australia show that we are making a real effort. a lot of things right,” Hussey said.

“We are also looking forward to welcoming new talent from Premier Cricket representation and Australia under-19s to the team, a testament to the work that has been achieved across our talent pathways.”

Along with Maddinson, leaving the contract list are Wil Parker, who joined the Collingwood AFL club as a Grade B rookie, 2018-19 Sheffield Shield-winning captain Travis Dean and quicks Matt Fotia and Tom O’Donnell.

“I would like to thank and congratulate Travis Dean for his contribution to Victoria at the elite level,” Hussey said.

“Travis signed with Victoria ahead of the 2015-16 season and scored centuries in both innings of his Shield debut in October 2015.

“He has played 88 times for Victoria in Shield and one-day cricket and should be proud of his achievements and titles.”

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