Will Pucovski likely to miss first Ashes Test

Australia opening batter Will Pucovski is likely to miss the first Test of the upcoming Ashes, set to begin on December 8. Pukovski was hit on head while training for Victoria last month. The recent blow was the 10th instance of being hit on the head for the right-hand batter. 

Pukovski, who impressed during the India series, was the prime contender to open alongside David Warner in the Ashes. Victoria head coach Chris Rogers feels the possibility of Pucovski playing the first Ashes Test is very grim. 

The former Australia batter admitted that losing Pukovski is a huge setback before the next week’s Sheffield Shield match. However, he was optimistic about the 23-year-old making a comeback in mid-November.

"In discussions with the medical team and national selectors, it was felt that we'd give him a bit more time before he's selected to play for Australia," Rogers told reporters on Wednesday.

 "No doubt it's a setback - I'd say now it's unlikely he'll play in the first Test. If we do play a third Shield game in mid-November, and there might be a second XI game for Victoria as well, that might prepare him for one of the matches in the middle of the Ashes series.

 "That's the best-case scenario at the moment."

Meanwhile, in the absence of Pucovski, Marcus Harris is a front runner to partner Warner in the opening match. Apart from Harris, Queensland duo Usman Khawaja and Matthew Renshaw are other options for Australia.