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Former fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has warned Will Pucovski's concussion lawsuit against his old school could have major consequences across sport.
Pucovski, 28, recently reached a confidential financial settlement with Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria over the repeated head knocks that brought his promising career to an early end.
The former Test opener officially retired from cricket in April 2025 after suffering at least 13 documented concussions.
He continues to experience serious health problems, including headaches, nausea, vision issues and difficulty completing tasks on the left side of his body.
Pucovski has also launched separate legal action against Brighton Grammar School over its alleged handling of a head injury he suffered during an Australian rules football training session in 2014.
His statement of claim alleges he was knocked unconscious after being struck in the temple by a teammate's knee when he was 16.
Will Pucovski reached a confidential settlement with Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria after repeated concussions ended his playing career
Mitchell Johnson (centre) warned Pucovski’s separate lawsuit against Brighton Grammar could have far-reaching consequences for schools and sporting organisations nationwide
The former Test opener retired from professional cricket aged 27 after suffering at least 13 documented concussions
Pucovski claims he did not receive an appropriate medical assessment and was allowed to return to training shortly afterwards.
The allegations have not been tested in court.
Writing for The Nightly before Pucovski's settlement with the cricket bodies was reported, Johnson said the school case raised difficult questions about where an organisation's duty of care ended and an athlete's personal responsibility began.
'Will Pucovski concussion case may open up a can of worms,' the headline read.
Johnson accepted that a teenage athlete could not be expected to make a sound decision after being knocked unconscious.
Pucovski has previously recalled being helped from the field before a coach asked whether he wanted to continue training.
'I literally got walked to the sidelines. And then my only memory was the coach coming up to me and being like 'Do you want to keep training?' he said at a Taverners function in Melbourne.
'It is probably the biggest day of my life in a weird way because I have never felt the same since that day.
Pucovski alleges he was allowed to resume football training after being knocked unconscious at school when he was 16
The former batter said he has never felt the same since suffering the head injury during training in 2014
'I went from someone who would do anything and everything to basically sitting on the couch doing nothing for an extended period.'
Johnson said young athletes almost always wanted to keep playing, making it necessary for responsible adults to intervene.
'A teenager who has just been knocked unconscious should not decide whether he is fit to continue,' Johnson wrote.
However, the former Test quick questioned how far responsibility could extend when athletes continued competing in sports where injury was an accepted risk.
He noted Pucovski returned to cricket after several subsequent concussions while pursuing his ambition of representing Australia.
Johnson acknowledged those comebacks may have occurred with medical clearance and professional advice, but argued the athlete's determination to continue should remain part of the discussion.
He also drew on his own experience with four back stress fractures and recalled bowling through pain during his international career.
Johnson said cricketers understood that decisions made in pursuit of elite success could affect their health long after retirement.
Johnson said an unconscious teenager should never be responsible for deciding whether they are medically fit to continue training
Pucovski now coaches Melbourne Cricket Club and works as a Channel Seven commentator
'Sporting organisations must be accountable for negligence,' he wrote.
'Athletes must also accept that some injuries are an unavoidable part of choosing to compete.'
Pucovski was considered one of Australia's brightest batting prospects after scoring consecutive Sheffield Shield double-centuries during the 2020-21 season.
He made his Test debut against India at the SCG in January 2021, scoring 62 and 10.
A shoulder injury suffered while fielding ruled him out of the following Test and required reconstructive surgery.
His concussion problems continued, including further blows during training and Sheffield Shield matches.
An independent medical panel recommended in June 2024 that he retire following his 13th documented concussion. Pucovski formally ended his playing career the following April.
He finished with a first-class average of 45.19 from 36 matches, including seven centuries.
Pucovski now coaches Melbourne Cricket Club in Victorian Premier Cricket and works as a Channel Seven commentator during the Big Bash League season.
His case against Brighton Grammar remains before the Supreme Court of Victoria.
