Will Pucovski lifts the lid on funny detail about partner's dad amid engagement news

Will Pucovski has opened up on his recent engagement, revealing the father of his partner initially knocked back his request to marry her. The 25-year-old, who has played one Test for Australia amid a career plagued by injuries and head knocks, popped the question to his girlfriend on New Year's Eve.

Pucovski took to social media to announce the news, writing: "Good chick, locked in." Speaking on Channel 7 on Thursday night after the Adelaide Strikers' win over the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL, the Victorian lifted the lid on the happy news and how it came about.

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"It's been an exciting week," he said. "I didn't [get down on one knee], it was more of a lunge. I'm not the most flexible so it was hard to get all the way down. And it was on gravel so I didn't want a cut knee or anything like that. I kept it pretty simple."

When asked by Jason Richardson if he got the prior approval from his future father-in-law, Pucovski said he did. However he was originally knocked back (we assume jokingly).

"I got the approval from the old man. He's a bit of a pain in the arse," Pucovski joked. "I actually asked him on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day he came up to me and goes, 'I've had a think about it and no you can't, she's way too good for you'. I said, 'I agree but I'm doing it anyway'."

Friends and fans sent a flood of messages to Pucovski on social media after the engagement announcement. It comes after a brutal few years for the opening batter littered with setbacks.

Will Pucovski's stop-start cricket career after high hopes

Pucovski made his debut for Australia in 2021, playing a Test match against India. But he suffered a shoulder injury in that game and hasn't played again at international level.

The Victorian has always been touted as a superstar in the making, but a string of concussions have resulted in Pucovski taking a number of breaks from the game for mental health reasons. After announcing himself with a double century in the Sheffield Shield against Western Australia in 2018, he initially took personal leave in October that year. He was then expected to be named in the Australian Test squad at the start of the 2019-20 summer, before withdrawing himself from contention.

His Test debut for Australia was then expected to come in late 2020 against India, but he suffered an ugly concussion in a warm-up match at Drummoyne Oval. When his debut finally came later that summer he hurt his shoulder while diving in the field and was ruled out of the remainder of the season.

He took another break from the game in late 2022, before returning the following year. He has featured in commentary for BBL games on Channel 7 over the last few summers, with Cricket Australia keen to keep him involved during his time away from the game.

Last month he was picked to play in a two-day match against Pakistan for the Victorian XI, marking his first action against international opposition since his Test debut almost three years ago. However he made just four in that game, and hasn't been mentioned in conversations about who should take over from the retiring David Warner in the Australian Test side.

His form in the Sheffield Shield has been patchy in recent times. However there still remains hope that he'll be able to put it all together and have a decent Test career.

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