Image source, Getty ImagesNic Maddinson played county cricket for Surrey in 2018 and Durham in 2022
ByMike PeterBBC Sport journalist
Australia have recalled Nic Maddinson for the first Test against South Africa after the New South Wales batter recovered from testicular cancer.
Maddinson and uncapped Victoria wicketkeeper Sam Harper have been added to the touring squad as cover for Josh Inglis, who will miss the series opener with a finger injury.
The 34-year-old Maddinson, who played three Tests for Australia in late 2016, was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which spread to his lung and lymph nodes, in April 2025.
He completed a course of chemotherapy in July 2025 and was given the all-clear to resume his career eight weeks after his final round of treatment.
He has not played first-class cricket since his diagnosis, but he made five appearances in last season’s Big Bash League and scored 126 for New South Wales against Victoria on Sunday in Australia’s domestic one-day competition.
Harper, 29, made 128 for Australia A against India A in the ongoing unofficial Test in Puducherry this week and scored 677 runs in the 2025-26 Sheffield Shield season.
Maddinson and Harper come into contention for selection for the first game in the three-match series, which starts in Durban on Friday, 9 October.
“Sam give us wicketkeeping cover as Josh continues his recovery while Nic provides flexibility throughout the batting order,” said Australia chair of selectors George Bailey.
All-rounder Cameron Green is a doubt for the first Test, after he sustained a lower abdominal strain while batting in the last of the three ODIs that preceded the red-ball series.
In the case of Inglis, initial scans confirmed a fracture of his right index finger, with the injury to be monitored before a possible return for the second Test in Gqeberha.
South Africa (preliminary): Temba Bavuma (capt), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne
Australia: Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
