Nic Maddinson makes 33-ball duck on Test return as Australia struggle in Durban

Nic Maddinson's return to Test cricket ended without a run as Australia struggled against South Africa on the opening day of the first Test in Durban on Friday. According to BBC Sport, his 33-ball innings was the longest duck by an Australian Test opener and the third-longest by an opener from any country.

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The 34-year-old left-hander was bowled by Marco Jansen after an attempted cut sent the ball back on to his stumps. BBC Sport reported that Maddinson missed 13 of the deliveries he faced before the edge that ended his innings. His dismissal came almost a decade after the last of his three previous Test appearances.

The recall followed a return to cricket only 12 months ago after treatment for cancer. Maddinson was diagnosed with testicular cancer in April 2025, with the disease spreading to his lung and lymph nodes. He missed most of that year while undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, before working his way back into contention for Australia's Test side.

Australia selected Maddinson ahead of 23-year-old Cooper Connolly with all-rounder Cameron Green injured. The decision contributed to a first in the team's history: every member of the playing XI was older than 30. Matt Renshaw, another change to the batting line-up since the previous Ashes series, is 30 and also made his Test debut a decade ago.

By the midpoint of the opening day, Australia had slipped to 127-6, with Renshaw the only frontline batter still at the crease. Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Beau Webster had all been dismissed. Labuschagne made 37 before Wiaan Mulder trapped him lbw with the final delivery before lunch, extending his sequence without a Test century to 44 innings.

The Durban match is Australia's third Test in a schedule that could encompass 21 matches before the end of next summer's Ashes, BBC Sport reported. Alongside this visit to the reigning world Test champions, that programme includes four home Tests against New Zealand and five in India. A World Test final appearance remains a possibility rather than a confirmed fixture, ahead of another series against England.