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Gifted Blue to pull on a Baggy Green

Nic Maddinson has promised plenty as a hugely talented left-hander and now gets his chance to shine on the biggest stage

Nic Maddinson has made a habit of making a good first impression.

On his Sheffield Shield debut in Adelaide more than five years ago, the left-hander from the NSW south coast posted 113 at the age of just 18 years and 294 days, breaking a state record as the youngest century-maker on debut that had stood for more than 70 years.



Two days earlier, he'd top-scored with a 51-ball innings of 54 on his domestic one-day debut, the only player in a low-scoring match to post a half-century.

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And on his international debut in 2013, he struck four of his first seven deliveries to the fence and his ninth ball over it, laying the platform for a team total of 201 in a T20 clash against India.

If Australia are to avoid an historic Test series sweep against South Africa this week, they will look to Maddinson to fire on debut once again.

The 24-year-old was one of four uncapped players named today for the third Commonwealth Bank Test against the Proteas in Adelaide, part of sweeping changes to the Test side not seen since the days of World Series Cricket.

Maddinson marches to Shield century

Like all Australian cricketers, Maddinson said his selection is the realisation of a lifelong dream. 

"It's the reason I started playing cricket," he told reporters in Sydney.

"It's the reason I still play cricket now, to try and play Test cricket for Australia.

"I think if that wasn't my goal I wouldn't be suiting up every week and fielding for two days' straight in the Sheffield Shield. It's always been my goal as a kid and it's still the main focus.

"I probably haven't been as consistent as I would have liked over the last couple of years in the four-day format but that's the area I probably work hardest at.

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"It's a mental battle and that's probably where my game has to develop a little bit."

The path to a Baggy Green is one Maddinson has always seemed destined to tread, even before that record-breaking Shield debut in 2010.

A member of Australia’s Under-19 World Cup-winning side in 2010, which was captained by Mitchell Marsh and featured the likes of Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa, the left-hander regularly features when Australia's 'next in line' are considered.

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While he largely made a name for himself early in his career as an opening batsman, a flexible mindset and a loaded Blues top order has seen the powerful left-hander find a new home at No.4 in the longer format.

And while he remains a powerhouse as an opener or number three in white-ball cricket, his drop down the order in Shield cricket has brought with it a more mature approach to his batting.

Quick Single: Renshaw ready for Baggy Green berth

This was on full display in NSW's Shield clash against Western Australia on a turning SCG track two weeks ago when he ground out a superb 116 in a match where the average completed innings total was just 230.

It came after he was elevated to the NSW captaincy last season and then made the most of a short chance with Australia A during the winter, posting 81 in a four-day clash against India A.

"Maddo said himself that his ton in the first innings of the WA game was one of the best that he has played, and it was a very mature innings," NSW coach Trent Johnston said last week.

"He was called up to the Australia A squad earlier this year and played well, and I think he has changed his mindset a bit as a result of that.

"I think we've all realised how gifted a cricketer Maddo has been.

"He got a bit more responsibility at end of last Shield season, when he took the captaincy at 23, and that matured him a lot. 

"It's his time. If he was called on to wear the Baggy Green, I'd say he's ready."

Maddinson entertains with fluent 81

National selector mark Waugh is just one of many admirers of the Sutherland Cricket Club product.

"Nic is obviously a player of great potential for NSW," Waugh said last October. "He's had some taste of international cricket but he's a player that I know the National Selection Panel definitely have on the radar for higher honours.

"He's just got to get runs consistently and make big scores.

"You keep scoring runs, you get your confidence up and people notice when you're making big hundreds or taking five wickets."

And making hundreds is just what Maddinson has done, with five of his 12 domestic centuries since his debut five years ago coming in the past 14 months.

"Making the same mistake for five years, you get a bit sick of it after a while,” Maddinson offered with a somewhat embarrassed laugh during last year's Matador Cup about his tendency to not convert starts into big scores.

"It's just being hungry for runs and not looking for a boundary ball quite as often.

"It's all mindset isn't it? There have been times when I've hit the ball as well as I am now, but I probably haven't been applying myself as well.

"On the mental side of the game, I feel like I'm going OK."

Maddinson's biggest mental challenge to date will come when he makes a long-awaited debut in Baggy Green on Thursday.

MEET AUSTRALIA'S FOUR NEW FACES

  • Matt Renshaw. 20. Left-hander, averages 41 from 11 first-class games with two centuries. Yorkshire-born, moved to New Zealand aged seven, then Australia age 11. Queensland's leading Sheffield Shield run-scorer last season.
  • Nic Maddinson. 24. Left-hander, averages 38 from 58 first-class games for NSW. Played two Twenty20 games for Australia in 2013. Has made two tons and an 86 in domestic cricket this season.
  • Peter Handscomb. 25. Right-handed Victorian averaging a tick over 40 from 61 first-class games, nine centuries. Son of British parents, holds a British passport but has been in Australia's system since under 19s.
  • Chadd Sayers. 29. Medium-fast bowler in the Alderman mould. Has taken 184 wickets at 23.80 in 46 first-class matches. Renowned for making the ball swing at Adelaide Oval.