Live Update: Bailey: Maddinson’s call-up is not disrespectful to first-class cricket. Batter is recalled after a 19-month absence after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are all smiling after Pat Cummins’ dismissal. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after Pat Cummins’ dismissal, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 The smile of a champion – Mohammed Siraj picked up five wickets in a ten-ball game, India vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup Final, Colombo, September 17, 2023 Alyssa Healy poses with the trophy, after Australia retained the Ashes, England vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Women’s Ashes, Taunton, July 18, 2023 A general view of Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Mullanpur Stadium, Punjab Kings vs Delhi Citals, IPL 2024, Mullanpur, March 23, 2024 There was no handshake between the players during the toss, in keeping with the recent trend in India vs Pakistan cricket matches. Shreyas Iyer and Sahibzada Farhan during the toss, India vs Pakistan, Men’s Asian Games Final, Nisshin, October 3, 2026. Bangladesh faced bats after Tharindu Ratnayake hits 65 in 32 balls to take Sri Lanka to a solid 165 for 9. Sri Lankans celebrate after winning the bronze medal, Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Men’s Asian Games, 3rd Place Playoff, Nisshin, October 3, 2026. From 1985 to 2026, India and Pakistan met in six major tournament finals.
Here’s how they played out India’s spectacular victory over Pakistan in the 2007 World T20 final, which gave the format a huge boost in popularity. India’s spectacular victory over Pakistan in the 2007 World T20 final gave the format a huge boost in popularity. Final, India vs Pakistan, World Twenty20, Johannesburg, September 24, 2007 Vitel Lawes likes to take wickets with left-arm spin, wants to develop in addition to variations and likes To keep his thoughts secret, Vitel Lawes shows his West Indies vs, West Indies vs New Zealand, 1st ODI, Guyana, July 11, 2026. They took just four wickets and conceded 706 runs in the first two games the series. Rohit Sharma reached his fifty in 32 deliveries, India vs West Indies, 2nd ODI, Guwahati, September 30, 2026. Ahead of the Cup World ODI 2027, the team management wants the fast bowler to be tested and not protected. Gurnoor Brar was caught for 26 in his first two overs, England vs India, 1st ODI, Birmingham, 14 July 2026. His team heads into the third ODI 2-0 against India, but the West Indies head coach believes they have made progress in the right direction. John Campbell reached 50 off just 29 balls, India vs West Indies, 2nd ODI, Guwahati, September 30, 2026. Mukesh Choudhary had Quinton de Kock cut off, Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2026, Mumbai, ril 23, 2026 Two overlooked J&K seamers seized an unexpected opportunity to fill the void left by Auqib Nabi, and delivered crucial spells in the Irani Cup Sunil Kumar takes a wicket, Jammu and Kashmir vs Rest of India, Irani Trophy, Srinagar, October 1, 2026 After spending the last seven months in rehab, the fast bowler is ready to play in the Irani Cup against Jammu and Kashmir. Akash Deep struck twice early on the final day, England v India, 2nd Test, 5th Day, Birmingham, July 6, 2025. The 41-year-old begins his 25th first-class season by leading Jammu and Kashmir in the Irani Cup against the rest of India in Srinagar. Paras Dogra talks about his hundred, Delhi vs Jammu and Kashmir, Day 2, Delhi, Ranji Trophy, November 9, 2025 Pace and firepower, South Africa could need his talent, control and experience to make a difference against Australia. Lungi Ngidi felt unsupported as a bowler before Shukri Conrad took over as South Africa’s all-format coach. Lungi Ngidi celebrates, South Africa v West Indies, T20 World Cup Super Eight, Ahmedabad, February 26, 2026 SA v Aus Test series – “I pride myself on solving problems” – Beau Webster prepares for his South Africa debut. With Cameron Green a potential questionable starter at Kingsmead, Webster’s mobility may need to come to the fore. Cameron Green reacted after taking a hit while batting, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 Lhuan-dre Pretorius talked about his first T20 century, MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns, MLC 2026, Dallas, July 8, 2026 They took just four wickets and conceded 706 runs in the first two games of the Rohit Sharma series reached his fifty in 32 deliveries, India vs West Indies, 2nd ODI, Guwahati, September 30, 2026 Vitel Lawes likes to pick up wickets with the wrist twist of his left arm, wants to develop more and more variations and likes to keep his thoughts hidden. Vitel Lawes shows his West Indies c, West Indies vs New Zealand, 1st ODI, Guyana, July 11, 2026 Bangladesh came together with the bat after Tharindu Ratnayake smashed 65 in 32 balls to take Sri Lanka to a solid 165 for 9. Sri Lankans celebrate after winning the bronze medal, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Men’s Asian Games, 3rd Place Playoff, Nisshin, October 3, 2026. Australian Chairman of Selectors George Bailey insisted the call-up of Nic Maddinson for the South Africa tour was not an offside cricket, despite him not having played a first-class match for 19 months. Maddinson’s promotion to the team, despite injuries to Josh Inglis and Cameron Green, is one of the most surprising decisions in Australia’s recent history. He did not play Sheffield Shield cricket last season after successfully undergoing testicular cancer treatment in 2025, but is now in a position to add to the three CS he won in 2016.
It is understood that the initial reaction from some key figures in state cricket was shock and confusion at how the selection took place. Bailey admitted that the first call to Maddinson about the tour was to tell him late Thursday night that he had been called “not long ago” and struck up a conversation. Maddinson then rushed to his Byron Bay home to collect his passport and green bag before flying out of Sydney on Saturday.
“It’s certainly a pretty unique set-up that he hasn’t played first-class cricket,” Bailey said. “Which I think is a pretty cool story in itself, and [it’s] great to see him playing again, but [also] just in a place where he’s really enjoying it. If you look at his last three or four years, he was incredibly unlucky with a cruciate ligament injury, a badly broken arm… So there were times when he was firmly in our minds and in our conversations within different teams at different times, but it just seems like the cricket world has conspired against him.
“I think his rise to the New South Wales position this year says a lot about the person and how highly regarded he is…he’s a good player. That’s not to say those who weren’t picked aren’t good players, but I don’t think you can look at that player and say it’s disrespectful to call cricket because he didn’t play last year. I think it’s not like a player sat down because he said the wickets were green. ” Bailey explained that the absence of Inglis with a broken finger, at least in the first Test, led to the selectors looking for two players who could fill his role as both backup batsman and backup keeper.
Sam Harper’s first call-up to a Test side, which would normally have grabbed headlines, fulfilled the latter requirement. Meanwhile, growing concerns over whether Green would recover from his abdominal injury in time for Durban added to complications, while concerns over Matt Renshaw, who was later cleared of a wrist injury, led to player selectors seeking a batsman who could cover multiple positions. Cameron Green reacts after taking a hit while batting, South Africa v Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 “I think the challenge for people is probably getting over what he [Maddinson] has had to go through over the last 12 or 18 months,” Bailey said.
“For those trying to make a list of the top scorers from last year, it will be a challenge. For the time and place we currently find ourselves in, the conditions we face, and the moving parts we had, it is simply seen as the best solution. I don’t think there’s a long list of players who offer that flexibility and can truly say they can play both roles. “From December 2018 to March 2024, Maddinson averaged 52.37 in the Sheffield Shield.
After returning to his native New South Wales, he had a lean 2025–26 season, averaging 17.80, although he felt fatigued in the second half of the season due to what he thought was a virus before his cancer diagnosis. But despite playing only quality cricket, BBL and One-Day Cup since last March, Bailey had no doubts about his ability to cope with the physical demands of Test cricket. “Yeah, absolutely,” he said.
“That’s what he’s prepped for. [He] is back in NSW this year, full time, ready to go. “So physically and mentally he is in good she.” As well as the idea that Maddinson can fill a variety of roles, Bailey also described him as a highly-rated spinner with the hope that he will play a key role in Durban – where Australia encountered a pitch that caused them problems in the first ODI – and possibly beyond.
Across first-class cricket, Maddinson averages 47.97 against spin and 35.49 against pace. “[Nic] is a strong player, a very strong player in terms of spin and [that doesn’t rule out] going up against fast bowling,” Bailey said. “Probably after that one-day wicket and looking at their [South African] team a little bit, I think that’s half an expectation, that’s probably what we’ll face in Durban.” Maddinson’s New South Wales teammate Kurtis Patterson was also considered by the selectors, while Bailey confirmed that had Mitchell Marsh not returned home for the birth of his child, there would have been a serious conversation about his inclusion despite his withdrawal from first grade earlier this year.
Bailey added that he and fellow selector Tony Dodemaide, who is on duty with the Australian A team in India, had spoken to a number of overlooked players to explain their reasoning. Maddinson had not been considered for the senior team but Bailey reiterated the different aims of this tour. “I told the group and a number of people who weren’t selected that this [tour] has a dual purpose,” Bailey said.
“Some have a big idea of what could hpen in January and February [against India], but some also have a feeling of how difficult it will be to play there.” Even if Green is ruled out in the first Test, Maddinson would likely need another injury to get into the starting XI. Cooper Connolly, who was part of the original squad, is the favorite to fill any vacant midfield spots. The bizarre nature of Green’s abdominal injury, sustained during a three-ball game against Corbin Bosch in the last ODI, where he was trped around the bladder by a full toss, hit a six and then was sent off, has prompted the Australian medical team to look for other examples to estimate the likely recovery time.
“It’s a pretty unique injury that even our staff said we’ll look at other cases to see if we can get more information on functionality, how long it takes to fully heal and the difference between batting and bowling,” Bailey said. Green was due to play for the first time on tour in Potchefstroom after being limited by a shoulder problem parently suffered by Bailey during the Test series against Bangladesh in Darwin and Mackay. At that point, it hadn’t stopped him from bowling, even though he had only bowled 10 overs without a wicket.
Green spent Friday afternoon walking outside JB Marks Oval and looked uncomfortable as he bent down to retrieve a ball. Inglis, meanwhile, will undergo another scan of his broken finger in a week, then a decision will be made as to whether he will return to the squad ahead of the second Test. Maddinson could meet the team directly in Durban when they travel for the first Test on Monday, but there is a possibility that Harper, who has already left India, travels to Potchefstroom, where Australia will play a two-day warm-up game against the CSA Invitational XI this weekend.
The game will be played on the visitors’ terms, with the agreement that they will bowl first, while Bailey confirmed that the bowlers’ workload would be carefully managed. Story:1556959+ Australia in South Africa – Bailey – Maddinson call-up – no disrespect to first-class cricket | Nic Maddinson has been called up for South Africa despite not playing first-class cricket for 19 months. Maddinson reveals ‘terrifying’ battle with testicular cancer. Maddinson has had a “different attitude” since beating cancer. Green and Renshaw were injured before the Test series. Maddinson and Harper were included in Australia’s Test squad in South Africa. Two stories collide in Maddinson’s remarkable Test recall, reported by Andrew McGlashan
