Nic Maddinson has been handed a remarkable Test return for Australia in Durban, recalled to open the batting for the first Test after not being included in the initial squad. It is a selection that underlines both his flexibility and the way injuries have forced Australia to reshape their plan at the last moment.
The 34-year-old has not played Test cricket since 2016, when he appeared in three Tests as a middle-order batter and made his debut alongside Matthew Renshaw against South Africa in Adelaide. Now, after a long road back, he gets the chance to restart his Test career at the top of the order at Kingsmead.
The move comes after Australia lost Josh Inglis and Cameron Green before the match. Inglis was ruled out with a broken finger, while Green’s abdominal strain removed another option from the middle order, creating a chain reaction that opened the door for Maddinson.
Why Australia turned to Maddinson
Andrew McDonald made it clear during the build-up that Maddinson offered cover in more than one role. On Tuesday, he said: “If Nic comes in, he can bat at the top, he can bat in the middle,” and added that Australia valued his craft against spin and quality pace, along with the fact that he had been at this level before.
McDonald also said it may not have been obvious to outsiders, but Australia felt Maddinson was the player they needed, particularly after Inglis went out. That flexibility proved decisive once the final team was set.
There is also strong recent form behind the recall. Between December 2018 and March 2024, Maddinson averaged 52.37 in the Sheffield Shield, a long stretch that helped keep him in the national conversation. His last first-class match came in March 2025, but the weight of that red-ball record clearly carried into selection.
A fairytale return after a hard year
What makes the call stand out even more is the wider context around Maddinson’s comeback. Last year, he beat testicular cancer, and this return has the feel of a fairytale after a difficult personal battle. For Australia, it is a chance to reward perseverance as well as performance.
There was also a clear sign of how seriously the recall had been considered in training. On Wednesday, at Australia’s main session, Maddinson faced Mitch Starc with a new ball and spent a long time batting against multiple bowlers. That sort of preparation suggests Australia were already treating the move as a serious option before the final XI was confirmed.
South Africa set the challenge
South Africa, meanwhile, named a side that recalled Anrich Nortje and included Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, while Pat Cummins won the toss at Kingsmead and elected to bat. Cummins said there was “a little bit of grass there, like most day one surfaces,” and expected there to be “a little bit in it”.
That means Maddinson steps into a first Test that should demand patience as well as technique. Australia have backed him to handle the job, and the story now shifts from selection surprise to whether he can make the return count on the day that matters.
