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'Made a mistake': Coach weighs in on Will Pucovski concussion fears

Pictured here, Will Pucovski is helped from the ground after being struck in the helmet while batting.
Will Pucovski was ruled out of the first Test against India after being concussed while batting for Australia A in a tour match. Pic: Getty

Will Pucovski has been backed to bounce back from his latest concussion scare, despite the incident reportedly marking the ninth time in the batsman's career that he's suffered the issue.

Former opener Chris Rogers is adamant Pucovski will have no issues facing down his fears and getting mentally ready for a potential Test debut in Melbourne.

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Pucovski is recovering from his latest concussion after being ruled out of the first Test between Australia and India.

National selectors are hopeful the 22-year-old, who demanded selection in the national squad with a pair of double-tons in the Sheffield Shield hub, will be available for the Boxing Day Test.

Rogers, who opened throughout a 25-Test career, was appointed coach of Victoria earlier this year and has become a key mentor in Pucovski's push for a baggy green.

Rogers was part of Australia A's coaching staff during the game when Pucovski was struck on the helmet by a bouncer, sending a scare through Australian cricket as he slumped to the pitch in a worrying sight.

The 43-year-old also knows Cricket Australia's protocols well, having suffered a head knock that forced him to miss two Tests during a West Indies tour in 2015.

"Time is gold. From my own experience, you just need a bit of time to get over it," Rogers told reporters.

"Then get back in the nets, almost go through your process again. Face your fears down a little bit and almost get back on the horse.

"Every day is going to count for him. Now he has a bit more time to prepare for Melbourne, that's going to help.

"He's been through it before and keeps coming out the other side, so he's definitely shown resilience."

Will Pucovski is seen here batting in a tour match for Australia A.
Will Pucovski's Test debut looked imminent until his latest health scare. Pic: Getty

Rogers shot down suggestions that Pucovski, who can expect to be peppered with bouncers in then nets by teammates then out in the middle by India's star-studded attack, has a weakness against short-pitched bowling.

"He's done so much work on playing the short ball and he just made a mistake," Rogers said.

"Sometimes you don't always get it right.

"What people might not know is he played a couple of Shield games and they tried to bounce him from almost the 10th over, for his whole innings. He got two double-hundreds.

"He has actually been playing that short ball pretty well ... if he had that opportunity, he'd be able to go out and take on the Indian bowlers."

Batting headaches loom for Aussie selectors

Pucovksi's absence, as well as that of Test opener David Warner (groin injury) and the poor form of incumbent Joe Burns, leaves Australia with a batting dilemma heading into the first Test against India in Adelaide, starting Thursday.

A Test recall for veteran Shaun Marsh - off the back of some superb form in Big Bash and Sheffield Shield - has once again been mentioned but former Aussie wicketkeeper Brad Haddin insists selectors need to look to the future and forget about the 37-year-old.

“I think Shaun Marsh’s time is done,” Haddin said on Fox Cricket.

“The theatre around it sounds great. He has started the Sheffield Shield season in fine form, he’s played really well tonight but he’s 37 years of age.

“You’ve got to move on. Everyone wants him to play again for Australia because he is such a good person but I think we’ve got to look at someone else.”

Australia coach Justin Langer confirmed this week that the older Marsh brother was in contention for a Test recall.

with AAP

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