Nic Maddinson had a difficult start to his Test comeback as the Australian opener was dismissed for a duck in the first innings of the opening Test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Friday. He faced 33 balls before Marco Jansen bowled him in the 11th over.
It was Maddinson’s first Test appearance in almost 10 years. His last match in the format came against Pakistan in December 2016. Having overcome testicular cancer and returned to international cricket, the 34-year-old had plenty of reasons to celebrate his comeback, even though his innings did not go as planned.
Maddinson failed to score a run, but his 33-ball stay at the crease put him in the record books for an unwanted reason.
Nic Maddinson Breaks Australian Record With 33-Ball Duck
Maddinson now holds the record for facing the most balls by an Australian opening batter before getting out for a duck in Test cricket. He went past David Warner, who faced 22 balls before being dismissed without scoring during the 2022 Ashes series.
However, Maddinson is not the record-holder for the longest duck by an opener in Test cricket. Former New Zealand batter Darrin Murray holds that record after facing 39 balls against Sri Lanka in 1995.
Former Zimbabwe opener Trevor Gripper also had a lengthy stay at the crease without scoring. He faced 36 balls before losing his wicket against the West Indies in 2000.
Maddinson showed patience during his innings and was careful when leaving deliveries outside the off stump. He also survived an early scare in the fourth over when Wiaan Mulder appealed for an LBW.
South Africa decided against reviewing the decision, as there was some doubt over whether Maddinson had edged the ball while attempting a flick. His stay eventually ended when Jansen bowled him a few overs later.
Nic Maddinson’s Comeback After Testicular Cancer
While Maddinson’s first innings did not produce any runs, his return to international cricket remains an important moment after the health challenges he faced last year.
The Australian batter was diagnosed with testicular cancer in April 2025. The disease had spread to his lungs and lymph nodes, forcing him to take a break from cricket and focus on his treatment.
Maddinson underwent chemotherapy and completed his treatment in July 2025. He returned to training in September after receiving medical clearance.
He then began working his way back into competitive cricket. One of the important moments in his return came when he scored 126 runs for New South Wales against Victoria in the One-Day Cup.
His performances in domestic cricket helped him get back into contention for a place in the Australian side.
Maddinson Returns After Missing 88 Test Matches
Maddinson’s selection for the South Africa series marked the end of a long wait. He returned to Test cricket after missing 88 matches between his appearances, setting a record for an Australian cricketer.
His return also came at a time when Australia were dealing with injury concerns within the squad, creating an opportunity for the left-handed batter to make his case again at the highest level.
The opening innings did not go his way, but Maddinson has already overcome a much bigger challenge to return to the game. After his battle with cancer, chemotherapy and months away from cricket, simply making it back to the Test side was a significant achievement.