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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust happy to have had (the opportunity),\u201d Maddinson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA week before, if you\u2019d said, \u2018You\u2019re going to play Test cricket next week, where do you want to bat?\u2019 I probably would have chosen to open.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t anything that was too daunting \u2026 just disappointed I couldn\u2019t make the most of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Nic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/6734b6eaf17b9d5aabbc42352c55e2d87fa52706.jpg\")
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![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/1794192975_914_google-icon.84c242a8..png\"){kind=icon}
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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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI probably felt more prepared than what I did the first time I played (Test cricket),\u201d Maddinson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I hadn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seeing as his recall came as a shock, Maddinson wouldn\u2019t rule out a return to the national Test side in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cA month ago, I thought maybe playing Shield cricket was impossible, so who knows?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d take two ducks and a pretty shit four innings over not playing at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems like when you\u2019re under pressure a little bit, and it\u2019s not going your way, that it\u2019s a pretty hard thing to front up.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019d take that series again in a heartbeat, to be honest.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it\u2019s an opportunity to play for Australia again regardless of the result, I\u2019d definitely take it.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Marnus Labuschagne put out of his misery in early selection call<\/p>\n 2 min read<\/p>\n