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At just 22 years of age, Nic Maddinson looks set to play an imperative role in Australian colours across all three formats of the game in the near future.
His innings of 36 runs from 20 balls in Wednesday night’s semi-final against the Perth Scorchers was evidence of what this young gun is capable of.
It wasn’t the amount of runs he scored in the game, nor how fast he scored them, but the fact he kept a cool head in a high-pressure situation.
This is such a valuable asset in today’s game, and one that should never be underestimated.
After a fantastic innings of 193 from the Scorchers, in which Craig Simmons proved he was more than just a one hit wonder with a slowed knock (by his lofty standards) of 112 from 88 balls, the Sydney Sixers were faced with a formidable run chase.
Luckily for the Sydney side, a considerable amount of rain cut their innings down to five overs with 54 runs to chase, an imposing run chase nonetheless.
With a pressure-cooker run chase like that on their hands, the Sixers needed someone to remain calm and simply play good cricket shots.
As batsmen fell around him, all of them unable to produce runs and resorting to slogging, Maddinson stood up and brought his side within reach of an unlikely Big Bash final appearance.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to finish the job, but what he did do was show Australia the way he plays the game and what he can do for the national team.
He has displayed this ability from the moment he was given his Sheffield Shield debut for NSW, in which he became the youngest ever NSW player to score a ton on debut.
Since then he has accumulated an impressive 2281 runs at an average of 40.01 from 33 first-class games.
In doing so, he as achieved five hundreds and 11 50s.
However, he hasn’t only impressed on the domestic stage. Opening the batting for the Australia A side that took on Gloucestershire in June last year, Maddinson smashed a blistering 181 from just 143 balls.
It is inevitable that Nic Maddinson will one day soon play for Australia across all three formats, however it is also likely that, with such a cool head on his shoulders, he will take up a leadership role.
While the captaincy is unlikely as long as Steve Smith is around – who at 24 years of age is the long-term heir to Michael Clarke’s throne – the vice-captaincy looks likely for Maddinson.
The national selection panel has taken the conservative approach with the young talent, and has opted to groom him until they can be assured he is ready for Test selection.
Australia has high hopes for Maddinson, and I have no doubt that when his time in the Test arena begins, he won’t disappoint.
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