Australian batter handed first Test start in 10 years after recovery from cancer

The Independent

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• Australian batter Nic Maddinson was named in the Test side to face South Africa in Durban on Friday morning.
• Maddinson had not played for the Test team since facing Pakistan back in December 2016, but earned a shock recall to the squad last week and was picked in the starting XI for the first Test in South Africa.
• Maddinson’s selection is even more remarkable given he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in April 2025, with it spreading to his lung and lymph nodes.
• He completed a full course of chemotherapy in July 2025 and resumed full cricket training in September following his recovery.
• Australia won the toss and elected to bat first, with Maddinson opening alongside Travis Head in the much-anticipated series opener, but Head fell for just nine before Maddinson was dismissed for a duck.