Nic Maddinson was recalled to open the batting for Australia in the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban, marking his return to international cricket after a gap of nearly a decade. He had played all three of his previous Tests in late 2016. Maddinson underwent treatment for testicular cancer last year and was added to Australia’s touring party on October 1, 2026, just eight days before the first Test began on October 9.
Australia captain Pat Cummins elected to bat in sunny conditions on the opening day. Maddinson’s first innings proved difficult as he managed only a duck, scoring 0 off 33 balls before being dismissed by Marco Jansen, who caught him after he chopped on. The start left him with plenty to prove when Australia batted again.
“I think I went out there and thought, ‘I just have to get bat on this, wherever it is’ and luckily I was able to get a bit of a loosener first up from the big fella who was a bit tight and tried to get a bumper to loosen things up, which was a huge relief to me,” Maddinson told Kayo Sports on the fifth day at Kingsmead as quoted by Cricinfo.
On the third evening, he hooked the opening delivery from Jansen to the boundary and progressed to 48 off 38 balls, establishing momentum for Australia’s second innings. His brisk contribution enabled Australia to declare with sufficient time remaining to pursue a result.
McDonald’s assessment of Maddinson’s dual approach
Head coach Andrew McDonald assessed Maddinson’s performance across both innings, noting the different demands each presented. McDonald, one of Australia’s three selectors alongside George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide, recognised that Maddinson had adapted his approach to match the match situation despite the first-innings setback.
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“A mature player reads the game well. I think the second innings, the scenario was slightly different, wasn’t it? Flatter wicket, we needed to put runs on the board quickly to put some time in the game with the weather that was potentially around. So, I thought he played both scenarios quite well, albeit the first things didn’t turn out the way that he always would have liked,” McDonald said.
McDonald explained the selection philosophy that led to Maddinson’s recall, emphasising the methodical process behind the decision. The selectors considered multiple factors when evaluating candidates for the opening position in the series opener.
“We look at their method, the way that they score runs, we look at the attack and the opposition as well. So we’re trying to match all that up. There’s no right or wrong in that. It’s about the process that we go to making that decision. If you want to talk specifically around the Nic Maddinson [selection], we feel as though the process to get that decision was really consistent with the way that we’ve applied it throughout the whole world in terms of our selections,” said McDonald.
Maddinson reflects on missed chances and recovery
Reflecting on his first-innings dismissal, Maddinson acknowledged the opportunities he had missed but remained composed about his prospects. He recognised that cricket does not always proceed according to plan and that mental resilience was essential after a difficult start.
“Marco Jansen is a tall left-armer and the ball was seaming a bit, so it is always a challenge at the top of the order. But I was disappointed with how it played out. I missed a few off my pads, a few cut shots and then you get stuck down that end. The result was not great. But it was that balance; you are trying to stick to your plan but also not do anything too rash just because I had not got off the mark. I was disappointed with the lead-up and a couple of balls I should have scored off, but that is cricket,” said Maddinson.
“I have been playing long enough to know that it doesn’t always go to plan and it was just about settling down in the field. The game slowed down and then it was about trying to make the most of the second innings,” he concluded.
