TIM PAINE ‘SHATTERED’ AFTER FINDING OUT ABOUT PUCOVSKI’S CONCUSSION EPISODE

Australia Test skipper Tim Paine said he was “shattered” after he found out that opening batsman Will Pucovski received a knock to his head and is recovering from concussion symptoms.

The 23-year-old has suffered from nine concussions and is currently managing his recovery in consultation with Cricket Victoria’s medical staff. Paine said Pucovski is still hoping to recover at some stage during the Australian summer. “He’s still hoping to be ready at some stage this summer. He’s got plenty of support around him, and we know how good he is, so there’s no need to rush him at the moment. He’s 22-23 years of age, he’s got a lot of time in the game if we can get it right,” Paine told SEN Hobart as reported by Sydney Morning Herald.

“[It was] shattering when I found out. I’ve spoken to him a bit the last few days. He is improving slowly,” he added. The Australian skipper feels Pucovski need to be careful in the future with the number of concussions he has had in his short career. “I don’t think it’s as bad as some of the others he’s had before, but with his history we have to be very careful. I was devastated to hear it’s happened again,” said Paine. Pucovski had earlier suffered a shoulder subluxation injury in the Sydney Test against India in January and was eventually ruled out of the fourth and final Test.