The young Australian batsman, Will Pucovski, has opened up about the mental health issues that forced him to take an indefinite break from cricket not long after earning his maiden Test call-up.

The 21-year-old was a surprise inclusion in Australia’s Test squad for the series against Sri Lanka. However, he never made the XI – that honour went to Kurtis Patterson – and instead, Pucovski went on a sabbatical.

Now, he is set to make his return to competitive cricket for Melbourne against Camberwell Magpies in the state’s Premier Cricket Competition. But is there disappointment that he couldn’t capitalise fully on his Test opportunity?

Despite murmurs to the contrary, however, Pucovski denied that his early return home had anything to do with being overlooked. “I don’t think it was anything to do with that,” he said.

“A lot of people messaged me afterwards, as if I’d be really shattered. To a degree, I was sitting there, like, ‘I’m 20 years old, I’m in the Test squad. There’s a lot worse situations to be in.’

“Obviously, it would have been amazing to play, but I was kind of just relieved to find out, either way, to be honest. It was just one of those things that I knew, whether I played or not, it was going to be an experience that you treasure forever. It probably wasn’t as big a deal as what was made of it.

Pucovski did, however, admit to an unusual feeling the first time he met members of the Test squad. “I don’t reckon I knew three-quarters of the squad,” he said. “I had a few WhatsApp messages from a few of the guys. It was quite bizarre – walking into the hotel for the first time and introducing myself.

“But I had a few Victorians there as well, whom I’ve obviously known through playing state cricket, so that helped me settle in.”

Pucovski is set to make his return to Shield cricket for Victoria against Queensland in Melbourne on Saturday, 23 February.

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