Nic Maddinson doesn’t believe Australia’s selectors threw him in the deep end in South Africa, saying he’d take the opportunity again “in a heartbeat”.
In his first Test series after nearly 10 years, Maddinson fell short of expectations after being tasked with opening the batting in South Africa following injuries to Cameron Green and Josh Inglis.
Selectors believed Maddinson was a good player of spin, and his inclusion gave them the freedom to allow Matt Renshaw to move down to No.5.
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But the left-hander could only manage 0, 48, 0 and 8 across the first two Tests, before being released ahead of the series decider in Cape Town to fly home for the Sheffield Shield.
The 34-year-old missed first-class cricket last summer, with many in the cricketing world believing selectors had handed the NSW Blues captain too difficult a task.
Speaking to media on Monday for the first time since returning from South Africa, Maddinson dismissed the criticism and said he would have preferred to open.
“Just happy to have had (the opportunity),” Maddinson said.
“A week before, if you’d said, ‘You’re going to play Test cricket next week, where do you want to bat?’ I probably would have chosen to open.
“It wasn’t anything that was too daunting … just disappointed I couldn’t make the most of it.”
Nic Maddinson chopped on for a duck in the first Test. Credit: AAPBe the first to know: Add 7NEWS as your preferred news source on Google
Selectors have also maintained Maddinson was firmly in the selection conversation during a purple patch between 2018 and 2024 while playing for Victoria, before battling cancer.
“I probably felt more prepared than what I did the first time I played (Test cricket),” Maddinson said.
“I know I hadn’t played first-class cricket for a while, but I felt like my record in the previous six years down at Victoria was something I felt really confident in.”
Seeing as his recall came as a shock, Maddinson wouldn’t rule out a return to the national Test side in the future.
“A month ago, I thought maybe playing Shield cricket was impossible, so who knows?” he said.
“I’d take two ducks and a pretty shit four innings over not playing at all.
“It seems like when you’re under pressure a little bit, and it’s not going your way, that it’s a pretty hard thing to front up.
“But I’d take that series again in a heartbeat, to be honest.
“If it’s an opportunity to play for Australia again regardless of the result, I’d definitely take it.”
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