Former Victorian leg-spinner Bryce McGain has labelled batting prodigy Will Pucovski as a “once in a generation” type player of similar ilk to champion pair Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke.
Pucovski is likely to make his Test debut against Sri Lanka after catching the eye of the Australian selectors, following his record-breaking performances at under 19 level for Victoria as well as his scores of 188 and 243 in the Sheffield Shield.
McGain says the 20-year-old has the potential to occupy the coveted No.3 spot and captain the Australian Test side in the future.
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“For Will Pucovski this is a bit of a soft entry, he will play in these two Tests without a shadow of a doubt,” McGain told SEN Afternoons.
“He’ll be batting in the middle order for Australia – how exciting is that? A young debutant, 20 years old, very capable and a great body of work of batting for long periods of time.
“I think that’s a better entry for him to go in and play against Sri Lanka and really kick-off his Test career batting at No.6.
“I think he’s one of these once in a generation type players, like a Ricky Ponting, like a Michael Clarke that he will come in, bat at six, but then we might find him as the Australian No.3 and quite possibly down the track the Australian captain as well.”
Pucovski broke Ponting’s 22-year record for the most runs in an under 19 National Championships in 2016, scoring 650 runs from eight innings, including four consecutive centuries.