Will Pucovski in doubt for Brisbane Test after injuring shoulder

Australia must win in Brisbane in the four-Test series to win back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, after the drawn third Test at the SCG kept the series tied at 1-1.

Pucovski, who was ruled out of the first two Tests due to concussion, replaced Joe Burns for the Sydney fixture and impressed on debut with a polished 62 before adding another 10 runs in the second innings.

Pucovski rode his luck in an outstanding first innings dig but showed he belongs at Test level with an array of crisp drives down the ground and well-timed pull shots when India tried to target him with short deliveries.

He looked set to retain his place at the top of the order with David Warner before Monday’s untimely setback. Even Warner, returning from a groin injury, looked like he wasn’t at full fitness during stages of the match. Pucovski is still expected travel with Australia to Brisbane on Tuesday.

Should he not be cleared to play, Marcus Harris is a spare opener in the squad and could fill his shoes at the top of the order.

Australia could also promote Matthew Wade to open again, and in doing so, bring Travis Head back to bat at No.5 ahead of Cameron Green in the order.

A left-field option could also be to bring back Burns, with the thinking being he might be more suited to his home ground at the Gabba.

India have had a torrid run of injury in the third Test themselves, with Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Virahi all hurting themselves during play.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Monday morning that daily crowds at the Gabba would be capped at 50 per cent of the ground’s capacity.

The status of the fourth Test was in limbo as late as Sunday. There had been uncertainty for a week about the fourth Test going ahead in Brisbane following repeated reports out of the Indian camp concerning their hesitation to fly north.

Loading

The Indians were initially reluctant to go to Brisbane because they would have to re-enter tighter biosecurity restrictions and feared they would be confined to the floors of their hotel or their rooms when not playing or training.

While Cricket Australia told senior Board of Control for Cricket in India officials that players would be able to mingle with teammates in other parts of the hotel, which has been booked out in full for the cricket, the tourists then expressed concerns about the discovery of the mutant British strain of the virus in Brisbane.

However, Cricket Australia said the Indian team and management had now agreed to finish the series in Brisbane after being re-assured they could leave for home immediately afterwards.

“The fourth Test will be at the Gabba, as planned,” interim Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said on SEN Radio.

“I had a call last night from the BCCI secretary [Jay Shah] and he confirmed we are good to travel to Brisbane on Tuesday. “On the basis of yesterday’s discussions, we are full steam ahead to play the fourth Test at the Gabba.”