August 21, 2024

‘Ten times better’: Nic Maddinson Eyes Test Recall with Sydney Thunder

Sydney Thunder has strengthened their batting lineup by signing former Melbourne Renegades captain Nic Maddinson to a one-year deal.

The 32-year-old, who has played three Tests and six T20s for Australia, returns to Sydney after spending six years with the Melbourne Stars and Renegades. Previously, Maddinson spent seven seasons with the Sydney Sixers, including winning the inaugural Big Bash League title in 2012.

Maddinson, who also joins the New South Wales Blues for the 2024/25 season, has amassed 2,046 BBL runs at an average of 20.46 and a strike rate of 122.66, including ten fifties.

He will join former Australian opener David Warner, England wicketkeeper Sam Billings, and rising star Ollie Davies at the Thunder, who finished at the bottom of the BBL standings last season with merely one victory in ten contests.

“It just looked like a really good opportunity in a squad that’s on the way up,” Maddinson told Fox Cricket.

“They saw a role for me to fit into their squad and hopefully the playing eleven.

“It was just an opportunity I thought was too good to pass up in a team that I thought was going to be pretty competitive going forward.”

Maddinson took over from former Australian opener Aaron Finch as the Renegades’ captain ahead of the 2021/22 season, leading the Melbourne-based team to the finals the following year.

However, his time with the Renegades faced a setback in December when he was dropped after a challenging stint in the T20 competition. He managed just 48 runs at a strike rate of 82.75 and an average of 12.00 in five games.

Additionally, Maddinson missed the latter half of the 2022/23 season due to a ruptured ACL sustained while fielding against the Perth Scorchers at Marvel Stadium.

“It’s always a difficult decision leaving a team that you put a lot of time into,” Maddinson continued.

“I guess that’s professional sport … it’s never an easy call.

“The last couple of years, in terms of injury and coming back from that, I haven’t probably been all that consistent in T20 cricket.

“The goal for me is just to try and find a bit more consistency in T20 cricket and actually cement a spot in the eleven for a full season.”

Despite a challenging 18 months in T20 cricket, Maddinson enjoyed a standout season in the Sheffield Shield last summer, amassing 361 runs at an average of 51.57 while opening the batting for Victoria.

He was the sole Victorian to notch multiple first-class centuries, scoring 104 against South Australia, 108 against New South Wales, and 109 against Tasmania.

“I feel like I’ve constantly improved every year,” Maddison said of his red-ball cricket.

“I’ve been reasonably successful at Shield level since moving to Victoria, and obviously now coming back (to NSW), I’d like to keep improving again.

“You find your rhythm, and you find a game plan you’re comfortable with, and you just find ways to score runs … that’s something I’d like to transfer into the shorter form.”

Maddinson made his Test debut at 24 in November 2016, stepping into the national team after a poor performance in Hobart against South Africa led to the dropping of six Australian players.

He scored 27 runs in three Tests before being dropped ahead of the New Year’s Test against Pakistan at the SCG.

With Steve Smith’s position in the Test team uncertain and veteran opener Usman Khawaja nearing the end of his international career, Maddinson is aware that a prolific Sheffield Shield season could open the door for a much-anticipated national recall.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t almost think about (a Test return) every day of my life,” Maddinson said.

“I wasn’t all that successful when I had that opportunity, but I feel since then I’ve grown as a player and probably off the field as well.

“I feel like I’m in a much better place and a bit more well-rounded, especially as a batter.

“I’m only 32. I feel like the way the game’s evolving at the moment, players are playing later and later, especially in the red ball-format.

“I’d love to have that opportunity again if it comes up.

“If I keep doing what I’m doing and looking to improve every year and build on what I’ve done previously, there may be an opportunity hopefully in the future.”

Maddison remains adamant he was ready for Test cricket when he received his baggy green eight years ago, but believes he’s “ten times better” with the willow than when he previously represented Australia.

“You obviously think you’re ready at the time,” Maddinson said.

“While you’re out there playing, you don’t feel like you’re out of place, but then looking back at it, I’m a ten times better batter now than what I was.

“You do think, ‘Maybe I wasn’t quite up to it, or maybe I wasn’t ready at the time’. But I think your career evolves. You play differently throughout your career. I play a lot differently now than I did three years ago at Victoria, when I was still scoring runs. It just comes in a different way.

“But at the time, I felt fine about the whole experience.”

During his six-year stint with Victoria, Maddinson amassed 2,785 first-class runs at an average of 50.63, including ten centuries. He notes that his defensive skills have significantly improved since he made his mark over a decade ago.

“I probably have a bit stronger mental side of the game and a bit more resilient,” Maddinson explained.

“I can adapt to most situations now, and I probably didn’t have that when I was in my early 20s.

“I probably tried to play the same way in a lot of different circumstances, and I probably hinted on the side of being too aggressive.

“My confidence in my defence, and some other areas of my game, have improved a lot.

“They’re probably stuff that I was told when I was 18 or 19, but there gets a time when you’re ready to hear it, and you’re ready to let that sink in, and that could become quite powerful.”

The Blues kick off their Sheffield Shield campaign on October 8 against South Australia at Cricket Central in Silverwater. December is when the BBL season kicks up.

“We are delighted to have Maddo join us at Sydney Thunder,” Sydney Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland said in a statement.

“Maddo has been around the game a long time and has played international cricket. Everyone knows what he can do with the bat, but what is also really exciting is what he can bring in terms of experience and leadership in any part of a match or the season as a whole.

“We expect to be challenging for the BBL title this season and Maddo, as someone who has won a BBL, is a big part of those plans.”

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