Cowan shows support for Maddinson

Cricket Australia has been urged to give consideration to providing extra support for players dropped from national squads.

The call comes from former Test batsman Ed Cowan after his NSW teammate Nic Maddinson chose to step away from the game ahead of the resumption of the Sheffield Shield season.

Maddinson opted to take a break from cricket, with the endorsement of CA and Cricket NSW, ahead of the Blues' innings victory against Victoria last week and has not been included in the side for this week's game against Queensland at the SCG.

Cowan said Maddinson was in "good spirits" as NSW and Australia teammates rallied around him, with the former Test opener adding he believes more could be done to support omitted players.

"In terms of picking young guys, you need to make sure they're ready," Cowan told reporters on Thursday.

"If they're going to churn through players, Cricket Australia needs to be aware there's going to be some burn.

"They're going to have to work extra hard on the welfare side to look after the guys they're going to spit out the other side.

"I don't think the Australian Test team manages any kind of exit very well. I know from my own personal experience it feels as though you're left at a train station and you look up and the train's five stops (ahead) flying down the track."

CA backed its player welfare, which it said was a big priority, with approaches tailored for individual players.

A support network is available to Maddinson including access to national team psychologist Michael Lloyd, his state player development manager and peers.

The player development manager puts in place a tailored support plan in consultation with the player and Lloyd, and the support network is a team effort between CA and the state body.

Victoria fast bowler John Hastings also lent his support to Maddinson, who played three Tests against South Africa and Pakistan this summer.

"Hopefully Maddo can get back to where he needs to be and that's playing really good cricket," Hastings told RSN radio on Thursday.

"I think he's an unbelievable talent and he's a nice kid as well."

Cowan said he was confident Maddinson would return an improved player whenever he decided the time was right for a comeback.

"He's 25 years old, his best years are well-and-truly ahead of him," Cowan said.

"Even if he has a really lengthy break from the game – I have no idea whether it's a week or five years – but whenever he chooses to play cricket again he'll be successful."

Former Test captain Ricky Ponting, discussing Maddinson's omission from the Sydney Test, said patience was key for players looking to work their way back.

"I've got pretty good advice for him because I was dropped a number of times myself," Ponting said on January 4.

"What I'd tell him now is to go back to the Big Bash, really enjoy that and free yourself up. But then when you get a chance back in Shield cricket, be patient.

"When I first got dropped ... I said 'I'm going to get myself straight back into the Test team', but it doesn't work like that."