Australia’s concussion-hit Pucovski retires from cricket at 27
Pucovski made his Test debut for Australia in January 2021 at the age of 22, scoring a composed 62 against India in the third Test at the SCG.
Will Pucovski, once considered one of Australia's most promising batting talents, has retired from cricket at the age of 27 following a series of concussions that severely impacted his health and career. The former Test opener said he could no longer risk "any more damage to my brain".
Pucovski made his international debut in the third Test against India in Sydney in January 2021, scoring a composed 62 at the age of 22. However, a shoulder dislocation during that match and repeated injuries prevented him from adding to his solitary Test appearance.
He last played in March 2023, when he was struck on the helmet by a bouncer. Since then, he has been sidelined and on 08 April confirmed he would step away from the game permanently.
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"It can be quite difficult to see how I could get back to playing professional sport again when I'm struggling to live my life the way I want to," he told SEN sports radio. "I just don't want to risk doing any more damage to my brain than I've already done."
A prolific scorer in domestic cricket, Pucovski broke into the powerful Victoria side as an 18-year-old and quickly gained attention for his elegant stroke play. But his career was continually disrupted by more than 10 concussions, mostly caused by short-pitched bowling. In 2024, a medical panel advised him to retire for the sake of his long-term health.
He revealed that the effects of repeated head injuries still impact him daily. "There are the mental health symptoms, which are one aspect. But then there's the fatigue, which can be quite severe. I get frequent headaches," he said. "I really struggle with things happening on my left side—if there's movement or action there, I feel dizzy and nauseous. Motion sickness has become a big problem."
Reflecting on the toll it has taken, Pucovski added, "I know what I was like before all these concussions, and I know what I am now. My family and friends have noticed a difference in me—that's frightening, both for me and for them."
