Maddinson pushes into Test frame as Vics dominate SA

Marcus Harris blazed the first century of the Marsh Sheffield Shield season, but the Test incumbent believes opening partner Nic Maddinson should be squarely in the national frame after batting the whole first day of Victoria's clash with South Australia.

Having not long ago fallen onto the professional cricket scrapheap when he was delisted by NSW, Maddinson's remarkable reemergence as a genuine Test prospect continued on Thursday as he posted his fourth century in six Shield games for his adopted state.

After Harris cracked 116 off 177 balls to help put on 220 for the first wicket, Maddinson pushed an undermanned Redbacks side into the dirt on a docile Junction Oval pitch to reach 195 not out at stumps.

Victoria were 1-362 at the close of play, with Will Pucovski adding an unbeaten 45 and Nick Winter (1-46) finishing as the only wicket-taker.

With selection chief Trevor Hohns watching closely on a cold Melbourne day, Harris suggested Maddinson, who played three Tests during the 2016-17 summer but hasn't been seriously considered for a recall since, is batting as well as he ever has.

"It feels like he's in cruise control at the moment. You can just see the freedom he's had since he's moved down here," said Perth-born Harris, whose career has also thrived since crossing to Victoria.

"Being in a similar boat to him, I know how he feels and you can see that in his batting. He's batting so freely, timing the ball so easily, he doesn't seemed too stressed by anything.

"He's done everything right the last couple of months, I think he should be spoken about to be picked in the Test side again if the position comes up. I don't think he could do much more."

Maddinson smashed four sixes, including two during one Kane Richardson over after tea when the visitors looked to target the left-hander with short-pitched bowling.

It's a tactic the 27-year-old has had to weather in recent times after breaking his arm in his maiden first-class appearance for Victoria last season, colouring an eventful start to his career south of the Murray River.

Maddinson had smashed 162 in that debut match. He then immediately posted two more tons in as many Shield games after the KFC Big Bash League break, before breaking his thumb and missing Victoria's Shield final victory.

"I've changed my approach a little bit. The ultimate goal is still to play Test cricket – I probably wasn't at my best when I had the opportunity," Maddinson told reporters after play.

"If I finish my career being a good Shield player and never get that opportunity again, that's okay… That (mindset) has improved my batting.

"Not looking at a Test squad and thinking 'I've got to do this to be picked'. It's just about playing. That's something I've learnt getting a little bit older.

"I wasn't actually in (Victoria's) Shield team for the first game last year, so my goal for this year was just to play all 10 games. That's as far as it goes at the moment."

Maddinson said he'd drawn inspiration from Harris' move to Melbourne, as well Matthew Wade's return home to Tasmania after a long stint in Victoria.

Both batsmen have gotten into the Test side after the changes in scenery, and Harris said there's no reason why Maddinson couldn't follow in their footsteps.

"If you speak to people in domestic circles, everyone realised how good he was," continued Harris. "I don't think it was all about his cricket ability with the stuff in NSW.

"Fortunately, enough he landed on our doorstep. We've grown up with each other, played against each other and he's always been one of the guys who always looked another level to most people.

"I think he's more consistent (than he was previously). Our careers are very similar, we probably bat a bit similarly, we could come out and bang a few but then play a stupid shot and get out.

"This is his fourth hundred in six games for Victoria – it goes to show the way he's matured as a batter. That probably comes with being in an environment where he really enjoys it and he's having fun."

Coming off a winless Shield summer, South Australia struggled for penetration on the opening day of the season against the reigning champions.

They also had themselves to blame in dropping Harris twice and Alex Carey missing a stumping chance off Maddinson.

The Redbacks are without their three leading four-day bowlers in Daniel Worrall, Chadd Sayers and Joe Mennie, who are all injured.

Victoria XI: Marcus Harris, Nic Maddinson, Will Pucovski, Peter Handscomb (c), Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Sam Harper (wk), James Pattinson, Chris Tremain, Scott Boland, Jon Holland.

South Australia XI: Jake Weatherald, Henry Hunt, Jake Lehmann, Travis Head (c), Tom Cooper, Alex Carey (wk), Tom Andrews, Nick Winter, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson, Luke Robins.