If we accept that sporting tenures are results-based, then the Australian selectors George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide should be conferring with the coach Andrew McDonald to submit a mass resignation. The opening moments of the first Test in Durban were enough to return the predictable harvest of one of the most bizarre selection decisions ever made for the national XI, with Nic Maddinson bowled for a torturous 33-ball duck, early impetus for Australia’s slide to 187 for 6 by the time bad light ended play. Maddinson should not have lasted half that long, nailed on the pad by Wiaan Mulder after 15 balls but spared by umpire error and a timid South African non-review.
Even that huge slice of luck never looked like becoming anything more. His innings went nowhere, shuffling, defensive, missing opportunities on his legs, dealing in extras. His only shots were a few cuts hurled at wild width, all air-swings until the bottom edge that took out his stumps.
Fault does not belong to Maddinson. It was the entirely predictable outcome of deciding that October 2026 was the time to catapult in a guy who hadn’t played first-class cricket since March 2025, and hadn’t played it well since March 2024. If it was bizarre to bring him into squad, then into the XI, the finishing touch was sending him to the top of the order.
The selectors’ defence a few days ago was that Maddinson is strong against spin, foreshadowing two South African slow bowlers against Australia’s middle order. But apparently words are meaningless, just a way to invent rationale after the fact. Because here was their spin specialist, given one of the toughest pace assignments in the world: opening the batting against bounce and movement in South Africa.
Australia have a nationally contracted opener sitting at home, in Jake Weatherald. They have his notional replacement, Matt Renshaw, who got one innings in the job. They have an entire Australia A squad running around in India and a Shield round full of openers with more recent game time.
Apparently none of those were better options than a guy whose career record can be found in the British Museum inscribed into clay tablets. Maddinson chopping on from Marco Jansen made the score 24 for 2, after Travis Head had already nicked Mulder down the leg-side. Yet again, an opening combo for Australia had made way for the throwback partnership of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
