Will Pucovski’s excellent debut performance provides perfect antidote to a surreal day at the SCG

Australia finished 2-166 from 55 overs on a rain-shortened first day of the Sydney Test, but it was Test debutant Will Pucovski’s sparkling maiden Test innings of 62 — in which he overcame the pace and bumpers of Jasprit Bumrah, the wily spin of Ravichandran Ashwin and the sketchy running between the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne — that dominated proceedings.

Few Australian Test debuts of recent decades have been as hotly anticipated as this one, nor as drawn-out.

Widely considered a generational batting talent, Pucovski has overcome numerous concussions and a series of mental health setbacks to take his place at cricket’s most prestigious level.

His resilience to do so made him a winner before he’d even walked out to bat.

In times so…