Nic Maddinson has failed with a 33-ball duck in his stunning Test comeback, 10 years after his last cap for Australia.
The 34-year-old was a shock inclusion to the Aussie squad to fly to South Africa when it was announced last week that he and Victorian keeper-batter Sam Harper had been added to the touring party after injuries to Cameron Green and Josh Inglis.
All-rounder Cooper Connolly loomed as a possible replacement for Green, given the Aussie selectors’ high hopes for the young Western Australian, and that he has already had a taste for Test cricket in February last year.
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But George Bailey and his selection panel have put their faith in Maddinson, whose last Test for Australia was on Boxing Day of 2016 against Pakistan.
“The big thing with this is Nic Maddinson is now in the side,” Aussie great Brendan Julian said before play.
“Whether he bats at one or five, I’m not too sure, but that is a massive surprise for me.”
Nic Maddinson chops on for a duck. Credit: AAP
Maddison opened the batting alongside Travis Head and almost lasted through until the drinks break, but struggled to rotate the strike before eventually chopping a false cut shot onto his stumps.
Adding to the shock of the selection, Maddison hadn’t even played first-class cricket since March 2025 after overcoming testicular cancer.
Australia have now had three opening pairings in their past three Tests, following Jake Weatherald’s axing after the loss to Bangladesh in Darwin.
The NSW veteran played three Tests in 2016 before being axed.
Former Australia opener Phil Jaques slammed the decision to pick him, and to pick him as an opener.
“It just doesn’t make much sense to me,” he told ABC before the first ball.
The tourists won the toss and elected to bat, throwing Maddinson into the deep end straight away against express pacer Anrich Nortje, who himself hasn’t played Test cricket in around three years.
South Africa are without spearhead quick Kagiso Rabada, who failed to overcome a hamstring injury.
The hosts picked two spinners, with Simon Harmer to partner Keshav Maharaj.
AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickleton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verryenne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Andrich Nortje
With AAP