Will Pucovski plays down “bat off” with Joe Burns as “media buildup”

Young Australia opener Will Pucovski, who has been banging at the doors of the national side for a year finally receives his maiden national call up. Pucovski stormed into the Test side for the series against India with two consecutive double centuries in the Sheffield Shield. The 22-year-old was slated to join the side for the India tour last year. But he withdrew at the twelfth hour owing his mental health issue.

None the less, the promising young talent has made it to the grand stage and is rearing to prove his prowess with the bat. But before the big series, Pucovski has one more hurdle in his way and it is Australia’s first-choice opener, Joe Burns. It is believed that the tour-games for Australia A against the Indians prior to the four-match rubber will be a “bat off” between the two contenders for the opening slot alongside David Warner.

Australia to stick with Joe Burns

The Victoria lad is unfazed by the hype as brushed it off as a “media buildup”. Pucovski shares that he is concentrating on his preparations and is confident about his game. He goes on to add that he stays away from the social media which makes it easier to cut the noise out and concentrate on his game.

“I think it’s a bit of a media buildup to be honest, the big bat-off thing. I think all I can really control is how I go about it in my preparation and then obviously in the game so I feel like my batting’s in a really good place,” Pucovski was quoted by Reuters.

“I’m off a lot of social media, so that makes it a lot easier. You can’t get tagged on Twitter and stuff if you don’t have the app, so that’s been a pretty easy one for me.” he added.

With all the ruckus around the Australian prodigy, Aussie coach Justin Langer shares that the team is most probably going to stick to the pair of Warner and Burns. It might be the case that Langer doesn’t feel young Pucovski will be able to bear the pressure of such a high profile game at home.

“He’s been amazing, hasn’t he? That said … we loved the combination of Joe Burns and David Warner. At this point, I’d say that will remain the same.” Langer said.

Having said so, nothing can be said as we look forward to the “bat off” in the tour games.

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