AUS vs IND: A few boxes to tick for Pucovski before debut, Warner almost certain to return, says Langer
Will Pucovski has cleared the concussion tests in lead-up to the third Test match against India. However, Langer believes that Pucovski still has a few boxes to tick before he makes his Test debut. David Warner, on the other hand is almost certain to return for the Sydney Test match, that commences from January 7.
Warner suffered a groin injury in the second ODI against India, ruling him out of the T20I series and the first two Tests. Pucovski suffered a mild concussion, the ninth of his career in the practice game against India A.
Justin Langer, Australian head coach confirmed that Pucovski sought out an independent neurologist in addition to the consultation arranged by Cricket Australia to reassure that his recurrent concussions will not have any long term effect on him.
“He’s been cleared by all the medicos and he’s obviously gone through all the concussion protocols, which we all know are incredibly strict these days. They have all been passed,” Langer said . There’s no reason Will can’t be selected now. It’s just now working out the balance of our team, where we are at in the series, all those things,” he added.
“As he will say in the last three years, every team he has played against has bowled a lot of short pitched bowling at him. He’s practised it, he’s hit thousands of short balls and he got hit the other day. I think the bigger thing for me is Will saw an independent neurologist yesterday and he’s seen a couple now… and the real heartening thing for him is that while he’s had a few concussions in the past, and they’re different, they’ve come in different ways. It’s not necessarily going to have any long-term impact on him.”
“I think if you can put your mind at rest with that, then that’s a real positive for him. He’s in a great frame of mind, he’s incredibly positive about playing cricket, he’s trained hard this week, and as he and I have discussed, the only way to get back on the horse is to get back on the horse. He’s ultimately the one who’s got to make the decision. Everyone will have a different opinion on it, he’s the one who’s got to walk out there and face the short-pitched bowling,” he added.
Also Read: AUS Vs IND: KL Rahul Ruled Out Of Test Series With Wrist Injury
I think his batting will be fine: Langer on Warner’s return
Justin Langer was confident of David Warner putting in a good performance in the third Test, in spite of making a return to Test cricket after almost over a year.
“I think his batting will be fine,” Langer said. “There might just be some different movements he needs to make in the field, so we’ll probably get him in the slips… I still remember clearly those brilliant catches he took at Leeds a year and a half ago, so he’s such a natural talent. He’s going to be playing with pain though and it’s not so much in the muscle but in the tendon area.”
“We’re confident that unless he does something exactly like he did in the one-day international, it’s not something that’s going to re-injure him. He’s going to have some pain… but he’s willing to take that on and hopefully it won’t hamper him too much,” said Langer.
Justin Langer stated that a final decision on Playing XI, and whether Travis Head keeps his place in the side will be made after the training session on Tuesday.