Nic Maddinson plays first Test in 10 years after cancer comeback at Durban
Synopsis
Eighteen months after chemotherapy for testicular cancer, Nic Maddinson walks out to open the batting for Australia in a Test match for the first time in a decade. His selection for Kingsmead — triggered by Cameron Green's injury and a 126-run knock in domestic cricket — is one of sport's most unlikely and stirring comebacks of the year.
Key Takeaways
Nic Maddinson is playing his first Test in 10 years at Kingsmead, Durban on 9 October 2026 , opening with Travis Head .
Maddinson returned to cricket 18 months after undergoing chemotherapy for testicular cancer .
His last Test was in 2016 at Melbourne against Pakistan .
A domestic score of 126 for New South Wales in the One-Day Cup and a Cameron Green injury paved the way for his recall.
Anrich Nortje returns for South Africa after more than three years out, while Kagiso Rabada misses out with a hamstring injury.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.
Nic Maddinson has been named in Australia's Playing XI for the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban on Friday, 9 October 2026, completing a remarkable return to the longest format — 18 months after undergoing chemotherapy for testicular cancer. The left-handed batter will open the innings alongside Travis Head, marking his first Test appearance in 10 years.
A Decade-Long Wait Ends
Maddinson last represented Australia in Test cricket in 2016, when he played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Pakistan. His return to the side comes through a combination of strong domestic form and an injury in the camp: a century-scoring run for New South Wales — including a knock of 126 in the One-Day Cup against Victoria — caught the selectors' eye, and an injury to Cameron Green opened the door to a recall that few could have anticipated just months ago.
Cummins Backs Returning Opener
Australia captain Pat Cummins praised Maddinson's readiness at the toss, after Australia won it and elected to bat first. 'I think he's really settled where his game is at. He's shown good form. No Australians have had a lot of cricket in the last six months, but I feel like he's really well-placed,' Cummins said. The skipper's confidence underlines a team management conviction that Maddinson's character and match temperament are equal to the demands of Test cricket in South Africa.
Australia's Playing XI and Line-up Changes
Marnus Labuschagne holds his place at No. 3 after a century in the warm-up fixture, while Steve Smith continues as the anchor of the middle order. Matt Renshaw drops to No. 5, vacating the top of the order for Maddinson. Alex Carey retains the wicketkeeper's gloves, and Beau Webster steps in to cover Green's all-round role. The pace attack features the celebrated trio of Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, with Scott Boland missing out. Nathan Lyon is the sole spinner.
South Africa XI: Nortje Back, Rabada Out
Anrich Nortje makes a comeback for the Proteas after more than three years out of Test cricket, providing a major boost to the home pace attack. However, Kagiso Rabada misses the match due to a hamstring injury. Dane Paterson and Gerald Coetzee also miss out as South Africa opt for a spin-heavy combination, fielding both Keshav Maharaj and off-spinner Simon Harmer. Temba Bavuma leads the Proteas, with Kyle Verreynne behind the stumps.
Full Playing XIs
Australia: Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje.
With Australia batting first in Durban, Maddinson's innings will be one of the most closely watched of the series — a Test debut-like moment for a cricketer who fought his way back from a far more serious contest than anything on a cricket pitch.
Point of View
But it is also a selection gamble in a Test arena that has humbled batters with far fewer interruptions to their careers. A decade out of the format, an opener's role against Nortje on a Kingsmead surface that can seam, and a middle order that still lists Smith and Labuschagne as its load-bearers — Australia's faith is real, but the margin for error is thin. What mainstream coverage may underplay is the structural circumstance: Green's injury made this possible. Had he been fit, Maddinson's cancer comeback story might have unfolded at a lower-pressure domestic stage. Cricket, like most elite sport, is as much about timing and luck as it is about character.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Nic Maddinson's Test selection considered a remarkable comeback?
Maddinson is playing his first Test in 10 years, just 18 months after completing chemotherapy for testicular cancer. His return — prompted by strong domestic form and Cameron Green's injury — is widely regarded as one of cricket's most inspiring recent stories.
When did Nic Maddinson last play a Test match?
Maddinson last appeared in a Test in 2016 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Pakistan. This match at Kingsmead, Durban on 9 October 2026 is his first since then.
Why is Kagiso Rabada missing the first Test against Australia?
Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the first Test at Kingsmead due to a hamstring injury. Anrich Nortje returns to the South Africa Test squad in his place after an absence of more than three years.
What are the full Playing XIs for the first Test at Durban?
Australia: Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje.
What did Pat Cummins say about Maddinson ahead of the Durban Test?
Captain Pat Cummins said at the toss: 'I think he's really settled where his game is at. He's shown good form. No Australians have had a lot of cricket in the last six months, but I feel like he's really well-placed.' Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.
