Nic Maddinson will open the batting for Australia in the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead, his first Test appearance since 2016, after captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat.
cricket.com.au reported from Durban that the 34-year-old left-hander partners Travis Head at the top, with Matthew Renshaw moving to No.5 to cover the middle-order gap created by Cameron Green’s abdominal strain.
Australia XI at the toss
Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
Beau Webster retained the No.7 allrounder role with Cooper Connolly battling illness through the week, cricket.com.au said. Nathan Lyon is Australia’s sole frontline spinner.
Cummins on Maddinson and the toss
ABC Sport’s live coverage said Cummins confirmed Maddinson’s selection after winning the toss around 6:00pm AEDT. “He’s really settled with where his game’s at. He’s shown good form. No-one in Australia’s had a lot of cricket the last six months but we feel like he’s really well placed,” Cummins said.
On the surface, Cummins told cricket.com.au: “A little bit of grass there, like most day one surfaces, expect there to be a little bit in it.” South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said he would also have batted first, according to ABC.
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.
As reported earlier, Kagiso Rabada was omitted from the home XI with Anrich Nortje returning and South Africa naming two frontline spinners.
Why Maddinson gets the nod
Maddinson was not in Australia’s initial touring squad but was called up after Josh Inglis’ broken finger ruled the keeper-batter out of the first Test, cricket.com.au said. He played three Tests as a middle-order batter in 2016, including a debut alongside Renshaw against South Africa in Adelaide.
Coach Andrew McDonald said earlier in the week: “If Nic comes in, he can bat at the top, he can bat in the middle. We feel like he’s got some good craft against spin and quality pace. He’s been at this level before.”
First ball was scheduled for 6:30pm AEDT on Friday 9 October at Kingsmead.
More News
