India Tour of Australia : “It gives him the flexibility to bat anywhere” – Justin Langer hints Will Pucovski might debut in the middle order

India Tour of Australia : “It gives him the flexibility to bat anywhere” – Justin Langer hints Will Pucovski might debut in the middle order

Will Pucovski

Will Pucovski
Will Pucovski

Victoria batting sensation Will Pucovski stormed into the Australia Test side on the back of successive double tons in the Sheffield Shield. The 22-year-old has been knocking on the door of the national side for quite some time now as he continues to pile up runs in the domestic setup. Pucovski’s steady rise through the ranks is a good sign for the Aussies who have been struggling lately to find a decent opening partner for David Warner.

With Joe Burns steadily dropping form in the red ball, Australian cricket fraternity has been torn into two factions. While many veterans in Michael Clarke, Ian Chappell and Mark Waugh advocated his inclusion, others hail him too young to be flung in the cauldron of Test cricket.

They are good headaches

Justin Langer

Lending his take on the matter, Australia coach Justin Langer opines that te baggy green cap is coming Pucovski’s way sooner or later. Langer lauds the Victoria lad’s flexibility as he hints that he might debut in the middle order. And it only makes sense if Burns ramps up some runs in the upcoming series against India.

“We think very, very highly of Will,” Langer told reporters on a conference call on Wednesday. “When the opportunity comes, he’s ready to play Test cricket. The opportunity hopefully will come for him at some point, whether it’s this series or a series to come.”

“For Will, it’s about where the opportunities come,” Langer added. “For the last 30 years it’s been drummed into me if you can bat top three in Shield cricket, you can bat anywhere. Someone like Will, who’s opening the batting for Victoria and has batted three, it gives him the flexibility to bat anywhere.”

Langer shares that Steve Smith‘s return is a good headache for the management as they toil to fit the marquee batsmen into the XI. The head coach reveals that they are looking to sneak in a fast-bowling allrounder into the side. But with Smith’s return, the move is now off the table.

“In England, we had Mitch Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell able to get us at least 10 overs,” Langer said. So we like that combination, the extra all-rounder. Steve will come straight back in and there are some headaches but they’re good headaches.”

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