'I feel sick and dizzy': Australia's Will Pucovski makes heartbreaking concussion, mental health revelations while retiring

Will Pucovski played just one Test for Australia but the Victoria batter's decision to retire from all forms of cricket at the age of 27 has shocked many.

 

It was agianst India at the famous SCG that the gifted Pucovski made his debuty for Australia, making 62 in the first innings. However, he couldn't cement his place in the Baggy Greens set up and was repeatedly injured during domestic games.

 

He last played Sheffield Shield, Australia's domestic first-class cricket competition, last in March 2024, when he was hit on the helmet from Tasmania fast bowler Riley Meredith. Repeated concussions have fitness issues have finally brought Pucovski to his knees, the right-hander said. 

 

Here are five things Will Pucovski told SEN Radio on Tuesday during an interaction while opening up about his difficult decision to retire from cricket. 

 

 

• "In my head, I didn't want to make an official call until I was symptom-free... I'm not going to be playing cricket again...It's been a really difficult year, to put it as simply as possible. The simple message is, I won't be playing at any level again."

 

• "When you're struggling it's hard to make a huge decision. The medical panel recommended I retire and that was really difficult to come to terms with. I felt like I was coming over the hill with a few things. Technically you can't make anyone retire from anything...it got made clear to me it was a strong recommendation, but the final decision ultimately was up to me."

 

 

• "There's the mental health symptoms which is one part of it. Then there's the fatigue, which is quite bad, I get regular headaches. I really struggle with things on my left side. If I have things happening to my left I feel sick and dizzy. I struggle with motion sickness."

 

• "At 27, I have so much ahead of me and I have so many things I want to achieve in my life. I wanted to play another 15 years and that gets taken away which is bad enough. At least I know I won't get hit in the head again, but when the symptoms are ongoing, it's frightening. I just don't want to risk doing any more damage to my brain than I've already done... I know what I was like before these concussions and I know what I am now. My family and friends have noticed a difference in me and that's scary for me and for them."

 

• "In the couple of months post that (last concussion) I struggled to get anything done, walking around the house was a struggle. I was sleeping a lot. From there it's been a tough year, a lot of the symptoms didn't go away, which has led me to this decision. The first few months were horrendous, but things didn't leave me."

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