Former Australian batsman Will Pucovski has started a new chapter in his life, marrying his long-time partner, Emma Stonier, just days after announcing his retirement from cricket.
Last week, the 27-year-old announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after revealing he is still suffering ‘frightening’ symptoms from repeated concussions.
Pucovski’s ongoing issues include regular headaches, fatigue, motion sickness, dizzy spells and struggling with ‘things on my left side’.
The married couple announced they’d tied the knot on social media by sharing a single photo from the occasion with the caption: ‘11.04.25’
The Port Phillip Estate on the Mornington Peninsula hosted the occasion.
Pucovski popped the question on New Year’s Eve 2023, but has since revealed that the process didn’t go as smoothly as he liked.
Former Australian batting star Will Pucovski has tied the knot with partner Emma
The couple were married at the Port Phillip Estate on the Mornington Peninsula
Speaking on Channel 7 shortly afterwards, the Victorian opened up on the happy news and how it came about.
‘It’s been an exciting week,’ he told 7Cricket’s The Spin.
‘I didn’t [get down on one knee], it was more of a lunge. I’m not the most flexible so it was hard to get all the way down. And it was on gravel so I didn’t want a cut knee or anything like that. I kept it pretty simple.’
When questioned if he got approval from Stonier’s father, Pucovski revealed that it wasn’t smooth sailing.
‘I got the approval from the (partner’s) old man – he’s a bit of a pain in the a**e,’ Pucovski laughed.
‘I actually asked him on Christmas Eve, and then on Christmas Day he comes up to me and goes, “I’ve had a think about it and, no, you can’t – she’s way too good for you”.
‘And I said, “I agree, but I’m doing it anyway. You said yes yesterday, that’s good enough for me!”
‘But, yeah, it was good to get it done. (We went on) a 45-minute walk out to this spot that I’d picked and I was excited for the first 44 minutes of it, and then in the last minute, I just absolutely lost it.
Pucovski popped the question to Emma on New Year’s Eve 2023
Pucovski was rated one of Australia’s brightest young talents but was forced to retire due repeated concussions
Pucovski’s ongoing issues include headaches, fatigue, motion sickness and dizzy spells
‘I had this big speech planned and it all went out the window, and I was just like, “Just get this done and get it through”.’
The Victorian last played Sheffield Shield in March 2024, when he was hit on the helmet by a delivery from Tasmania speedster Riley Meredith.
It was the 13th known concussion of his sporting career.
Pucovski says his life had changed as he dealt with the symptoms of concussion.
‘I’m not going to be playing cricket again,’ Pucovski told SEN.
‘In the couple of months post that [last concussion] I struggled to get anything done, walking around the house was a struggle.
‘My fiancee was annoyed because I didn’t contribute to chores. 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.
‘It’s unfortunately gotten to a stage now where a year or so down the track (I am) still suffering, still don’t really have the answers I have been looking for in terms of why I am still getting these symptoms, and it’s come time to make this decision.
Pucovski revealed that when he asked Emma’s dad for approval to marry he joked: ‘she’s way too good for you’
The batting prodigy hasn’t been able to find answers about why his awful symptoms aren’t going away
‘When the symptoms are ongoing, it’s pretty frightening.’
Pucovski played his only Test in January 2021 against India at the SCG, scoring 62 in the first innings.
He finishes with a first-class average of 45.19 that includes seven centuries and a highest score of 255 not out.
Such was his talent, Pucovski was considered by many experts capable of playing long-term for Australia.
Only two months before his Test debut, he became the first player this century to score two consecutive double centuries in the Sheffield Shield.
