• Source:IANS
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In a concerning-yet-intriguing turn of events during the ongoing Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Tasmania at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, Australian batter Will Pucovski was forced to retire hurt after being hit on the head by a bouncer from Tasmania's fast-bowler Riley Meredith.

The incident, adding to Pucovski's well-documented history of dealing with concussions, unfolded when Pucovski faced a short ball from Meredith and, in an attempt to evade it, took his eyes off the delivery. Unfortunately, the ball made direct contact with his helmet, causing him to fall to the ground in immediate discomfort.

Medical personnel rushed to Pucovski's aid on the field as he lay on the ground, prompting concerns among players and spectators alike. Despite managing to get back on his feet after a few minutes, Pucovski appeared visibly shaken as he gingerly walked off the field, clutching his head. Regrettably, his innings came to an abrupt end, with Pucovski retiring hurt for zero runs.

Victoria subsequently announced Campbell Kellaway as Pucovski's concussion substitute for the remainder of the match.

"Will is currently in the hands of our medical professionals. We'll look to provide an update in due course," said a statement from Victoria. In January this year, Pucovski had made 42 when he was struck on the helmet while trying to play a hook shot against South Australia pacer David Grant in a match for Victoria's second eleven.

He continued to bat in his innings after looking shaken up, but after facing four more balls he retired hurt. Pucovski then cleared a concussion test to be able to resume batting. Later, he scored his seventh first-class century in Victoria's clash with New South Wales at the SCG.

Pucovksi's cricketing career has been marred by close to a dozen previous concussions that have seen him play just one Test match for Australia, which came against India at the SCG during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in 2021. He made 62 in the match, but suffered a shoulder injury, which forced him to miss the Brisbane Test.

Pucovski has made a return to cricket this Australian summer after suffering 11 concussions and taking leave from the game due to mental health reasons in October 2022, though the decision wasn't related to concussions.

"The concussions have masked the bigger issues, and that's the mental health stuff. The mental health has been a much bigger issue for me than even the concussions. I don't fear for my long-term health, it's more the mental health side that's been the tougher part," said Pucovski once on his concussion issues in a Vic State Cricket podcast episode.

Inputs from IANS