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Australia’s selectors had been below stress Tuesday to choose Will Pucovski as a gap batsman for the Test sequence in opposition to India after the younger prodigy smacked back-to-back double centuries. The 22-year-old hit an unbeaten 255 for Victoria within the Sheffield Shield final week, sharing a report opening stand of 486 runs with Marcus Harris in opposition to South Australia. He adopted it with 202 in opposition to Western Australia on Monday which noticed former Australia captains add their weight to requires him to open alongside David Warner, on the expense of incumbent Joe Burns.
“It’s against a good team, India, but this kid’s ready… now is his time,” former skipper Michael Clarke advised reporters.
“Got to pick him. The fact this series is in Australia is a great way to get him into that Test team as well. He is playing in conditions he is accustomed to.”
Fellow former captains Ian Chappell and Kim Hughes expressed related sentiments, as did Mark Waugh.
“I would definitely be picking him for the first Test against India,” Waugh advised Fox Sports. “He should be picked as an opening batsman.”
“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.”
But Waugh’s brother Steve — Australia’s most capped participant — disagreed.
“(Coach) Justin Langer is big on loyalty and winning combinations,” he advised AFP.
“A lot of people have put Burns under the microscope but the fact is he’s done very well with Warner, they have tremendous chemistry which is so important for a partnership.
“So I’m not so certain that might be damaged up.”
Selectors are finalising the squad for the first of four Tests against India in Adelaide on December 17, with Australia’s top six largely settled apart from Warner’s opening partner.
Pucovski has long been seen as one of Australia’s brightest prospects, but has battled concussion and mental health issues.
He was in the national set-up last summer against Sri Lanka, but after being overlooked for the first and again missing out on the second was released to return home and deal with his issues.
Promoted
Elsewhere within the Sheffield Shield, former Test opener Matt Renshaw despatched his personal reminder with an unbeaten 168, whereas fellow Queenslander Mitchell Swepson took 5-55.
It was Swepson’s third five-wicket haul in succession, cementing his burgeoning status as certainly one of Australia’s most promising spinners.
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