Maddinson faces 33 balls for duck on Australia return in Durban
On Friday morning in Durban during the First Test (day one of five), Nic Maddinson, recalled to Australia's Test side, faced 33 balls without scoring and was dismissed for a duck. The scoreless stint was the longest by an Australian opener in Test history.
Maddinson was recalled after making a white-ball century for New South Wales at the start of the Australian domestic season and had returned to cricket 12 months ago following cancer treatment. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which spread to his lung and lymph nodes, in April 2025 and missed most of last year to undergo surgery and chemotherapy. The recall came almost 10 years after the last of his previous three Tests.
The left-hander faced 33 balls, missed 13 and edged one — the attempted cut to Marco Jansen that crashed back on to his stumps. Had the Proteas reviewed an lbw shout on the 15th ball he faced, the umpire's decision of not out would have been overturned. South Africa bowled both sides of the wicket to Maddinson but he was unable to score, and his duck stood as the third-longest by any Test opener.
Australia selected Maddinson ahead of 23-year-old Cooper Connolly in place of injured all-rounder Cameron Green, naming an entire XI aged over 30 for the first time in their history. The other new name in the ageing batting line-up from last winter's Ashes was 30-year-old Matt Renshaw, who made his debut 10 years ago. Dad's Army is only getting older.
By the midpoint on day one, Australia were 127-6 with Renshaw the only frontline batter remaining; 37-year-old Steve Smith, 35-year-old Alex Carey and a trio of 32-year-olds in Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Beau Webster had all been dismissed. Labuschagne batted for 37 before falling lbw to Wiaan Mulder to the last ball before lunch and has now gone 44 Test innings without a Test century.
Before the Test, former Australia opener Matthew Hayden said Australia's selectors were "disrespecting first-class cricket" by picking Maddinson. Because of his cancer treatment, Maddinson's only domestic matches since March 2025 have come against the white ball. "Clearly our selectors have a firm view he is a talent and that is why they picked him," Greenberg told SEN. "I understand why there has been debate but I am not going to sit here and get into selections."
This Test is the third in Australia's possible 21 before the end of next summer's Ashes, a schedule that includes a tour against the world Test champions, a four-Test home series against New Zealand, a five-Test tour of India, a possible World Test final and the latest contest with England. At 36, 35, 33 and 38, Australia's bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon were described in the report as "all closer to the end than the beginning"; they have been a great side. Not everyone gets to live that fairytale.
