A return to Test cricket is a top priority for Nic Maddinson as he builds on his strong finish in last season’s Sheffield Shield, aiming to bring that momentum to New South Wales after returning home for the winter. Additionally, he’s eager to revive his T20 career following a dual switch, having joined Sydney Thunder.
Maddinson’s performance last season was impressive, with three centuries in three Shield matches for Victoria after recovering from an injury that sidelined him for the first half of the summer. His return to form has reignited talks of a potential Test cricket comeback. Maddinson last played in the Test arena during the 2016-17 season against South Africa and Pakistan, but his brief stint saw him score just 27 runs in four innings. Reflecting on this, Maddinson acknowledged that the prospect of returning to Test cricket crosses his mind frequently. He shared that while off-season and family time are essential, the onset of outdoor training and bowling sessions with the likes of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc naturally brings his focus back to the progression of his cricket career.
Maddinson expressed his passion for the game, emphasising his desire to help New South Wales succeed, while still harbouring aspirations of representing Australia again. He believes that the player he is now has vastly improved compared to his earlier Test days. Over six seasons with Victoria, Maddinson averaged 50.63 in Shield cricket, a significant improvement that he attributes to his growth as a player. He confidently stated that he is “ten times better” now than when he first played Test cricket, noting that last season’s challenging conditions made his run-scoring achievements even more rewarding.
His strong finish in the Shield came after a tough BBL season with the Melbourne Renegades, where he was dropped as captain after scoring just 48 runs in four innings. Recovering from an ACL injury, Maddinson had limited cricket leading up to the tournament. Despite his underwhelming T20 record, with an average of 20.30 from 134 innings, he hopes to rejuvenate his game with Sydney Thunder.
Maddinson admitted to being disappointed with his T20 performances since leaving the Sydney Sixers in 2018. He found it challenging to regain form in the BBL after a long break from cricket last season. For Maddinson, the key to success lies in having a solid block of longer-form cricket to transition into the BBL, allowing him to expand his game from there. He acknowledged that players often experience slumps in certain formats but can bounce back, and he believes that last season’s lack of game time hindered his performance. Maddinson aims to refine his game plan moving forward, ensuring it works regardless of his batting position.
Joining Sydney Thunder presents the possibility of Maddinson opening alongside David Warner, with whom he shared a 233-run Shield opening partnership in 2011. Maddinson fondly recalled their first opening partnership when he was just 16 in a 2nd XI game, expressing excitement at the prospect of batting together again. He also highlighted the strength of Thunder’s top order, mentioning players like Cam Bancroft, Ollie Davies, and Sam Billings, and expressed hope that he would have a significant role in the lineup.