Published: Feb 08, 2017, 05:04 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 08, 2017, 05:09 PM (IST)
Australian batsman Nic Maddinson on Tuesday announced an indefinite break from cricket due to personal reasons. His sudden decision will not only keep him out of his domestic side New South Wales (NSW) Blues’ this week’s Sheffield Shield match, but also from the game for an indefinite period. He had earlier missed his sides match against Victoria, which NSW Blues won by an innings. Only a couple of months back, Maddinson had made a surprise entry to Australia’s Test team along with Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb after the team went through a humiliating loss at the hands of South Africa at home.
Maddinson, who made his debut in the third Test after Australia lost the first two Tests, did not have have a smooth entry to the highest level. He was bowled by Kagiso Rabada with the swinging pink ball under lights at Adelaide for a second-ball duck. “Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket NSW (CNSW) advises that Australian and NSW batsman Nic Maddinson will not be available for selection due to personal reasons, until further notice,” CA and CNSW said in a joint statement before NSW’s match with Victoria, reported cricket.com.au.
It is understood that Maddinson’s NSW and Australia teammates have been in touch with the batsman and have thrown their weight behind the batsman. His return to playing, however, remains unknown.
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After a disappointing debut, Maddinson struggled against Pakistan as well. He scored 1 and 4 in the Brisbane Test followed by his highest score of 22 in the Boxing Day Test. He was subsequently dropped for the third Test against Pakistan on his home ground at the SCG, with all-rounder Hilton Cartwright replacing him in the playing XI.
In the Big Bash League (BBL) that followed, Maddinson, playing for Sydney Sixers, could manage just 75 runs at 10.71 in seven matches. He did not quite have a brilliant Sheffield Shield season preceding his selection, and quite a few cricket experts back in Australia had expressed their surprise over his selection to the Test team in the first place. Maddinson, who though admitted he “did not feel out of place being in Test cricket”, also accepted his axing positively.
“It is hard (getting dropped) but at the end of the day I’ve had my chance and couldn’t grab so it’s back to Shield cricket to score runs again,” he had said, suggesting he will go back to the grind of First-Class cricket, score runs and return to the Test team. But this latest development has surprised all and sundry. His domestic side NSW, meanwhile, are expected to announce a squad for Friday’s match against the Queensland Bulls at the SCG on Thursday morning, where the media spotlight shall be on his replacement.
