Batting prodigy Will Pucovski is "ready to go", captain Tim Paine said Wednesday, as Australia appear set for a new opening partnership in the high-stakes third Test against India this week.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The cricketing heavyweights head into the clash with the series locked at 1-1, with both desperate for a win ahead of the final game in Brisbane next week.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Barring last-minute hiccups, Australia will welcome back veteran David Warner's firepower at the top of the order with Pucovski tipped to make his debut alongside him after Joe Burns was dumped.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
There had been speculation that selectors may stick with makeshift opener Matthew Wade even if Pucovski was fully recovered from the latest in a series of concussions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Paine hinted the 22-year-old, who smacked back-to-back Sheffield Shield double centuries this season, would play, which would see Wade drop back to his favoured number five and Travis Head likely axed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Davey's been awesome, he brings really high intensity. It fills guys with confidence around him, he's a player that you love having on your side," said Paine of Warner's return from a groin injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He's always got plenty to say, really energetic, very professional. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
"And Will's been fantastic as well," he added. "He's been out of the bubble for a couple of weeks, but he's excited, he's fresh. He looks ready to go if he's called upon."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
If Pucovski plays, he can expect a bouncer barrage as India look to unsettle a man who has been concussed nine times already in his career.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But after a neurologist on Monday gave him the all-clear from his latest head-knock, Paine said he had no concerns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Will's been hit in the head a few times, but he plays the short ball really well. And as long as he's comfortable, then we're comfortable and so far he's indicating that he's good to go."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After Australia won in Adelaide and India bounced back in Melbourne, they pad up at the Sydney Cricket Ground from Thursday for what will be a home Test for many.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia's attack -- Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon -- are all from New South Wales, as are Warner and Steve Smith.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We've got a great record here. A lot of our guys, this is their home ground so they certainly love playing here, they love being at home, they enjoy the conditions," Paine said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"All of our bowlers are obviously New South Welshmen, they know the wicket very well, they exploit the conditions very well and they bowl really well as a group here. We expect that won't change."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's the same with our batting," he added. "Our two best batsmen, this is their home ground, this is where they do their best."<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2021\/01\/aus-vs-ind-pucovski-ready-to-go-as-australia-eye-new-opening-partnership-at-sydney.jpg", "alt_img": "image for cricket david warner and will pucovski ", "alt_title": "David Warner and Will Pucovski ", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "Aus vs Ind: Pucovski 'Ready To Go' As Australia Eye New Opening Partnership At Sydney On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Batting prodigy Will Pucovski is \"ready to go\", captain Tim Paine said Wednesday, as Australia appear set for a new opening partnership.", "seo_keywords": "Will Pucovski, Sydney Cricket Ground , India tour of Australia 2020-21", "tag": "", "tagging": "Will Pucovski,Sydney Cricket Ground ,India tour of Australia 2020-21,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "aus-vs-ind-pucovski-ready-to-go-as-australia-eye-new-opening-partnership-at-sydney", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "2283", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2021-01-06 10:56:31", "updated": "2021-01-06 10:56:50", "img_from": "David Warner and Will Pucovski ", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": "Will Pucovski, David Warner, Sydney Cricket Ground, India, Australia, Aus vs Ind", "livescore_text": "", "livescore_link": "", "btn_text": "", "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "1", "posted_by": "21", "jio_date": "2021-01-06 10:56:31", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2021-01-06 10:56:31", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/aus-vs-ind-pucovski-ready-to-go-as-australia-eye-new-opening-partnership-at-sydney-69746" }