Maddinson recalled as opener for first Test in 10 years

Nic Maddinson's stunning return to the Australian team is complete with the recalled 34-year-old to open the batting in the first Test at Durban.

The shock call comes after Maddinson wasn't in the tourists' initial squad but was brought in after Josh Inglis' broken finger ruled the West Australian wicketkeeper out of the first Test.

The left-hander will open the batting with Travis Head, pushing Matthew Renshaw down to No.5 in the order, filling a void in the middle order following Cameron Green's abdominal strain.

Australia XI: Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

 

South Africa XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Anrich Nortje

Aussie skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat at Kingsmead. "A little bit of grass there," he said, "like most day one surfaces, expect there to be a little bit in it."

It's a fairytale return for the newly-appointed NSW captain, who beat testicular cancer last year.

Maddinson hasn't played any first-class cricket since March 2025, however had accumulated an impressive domestic record by averaging 52.37 in the Sheffield Shield from December 2018 to March 2024, before a difficult 2024-25 summer prior to his cancer diagnosis.

"If Nic comes in, he can bat at the top, he can bat in the middle," coach Andrew McDonald said on Tuesday.

"We feel like he's got some good craft against spin and quality pace. He's been at this level before.

"It may not have been obvious for others, but we felt like he was the player that we needed, in particular with Josh Inglis going out, in terms of his flexibility."

At Australia's main training session on Wednesday, Maddinson faced Mitch Starc with a new ball in a hint at his new role and had another long bat against a range of bowlers on match eve.

Maddinson played three Tests as a middle-order batter in 2016, making his debut alongside Renshaw against South Africa in Adelaide.

Longest gap between men's Tests for Australia

 

Bob Simpson 9y 305d – 1968 to 1977

 

Nic Maddinson 9y 286d – 2016 to 2026

 

Ernie Mayne 9y 104d – 1912 to 1921

 

Sammy Carter 8y 347d – 1912 to 1921

Renshaw returns to the middle order, where he was employed for three Tests in early 2023 and has had success in Australia's ODI side.

Versatile allrounder Beau Webster got the nod at No.7 with Cooper Connolly battling an illness through the week.

Nathan Lyon will be Australia's sole frontline spinner with Webster, Renshaw, Head, Marnus Labuschagne and even Maddinson able to pitch in with part-time spin if required.

The South Africans announced their side on Thursday, recalling Anrich Nortje and picking two spinners; Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer.

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6:30pm AEDT (9:30am local)

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

South Africa's first Test squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (second Test onwards), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster