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.
Dylan
Guest
With all due respect Christian, I would much rather him stay in Australia play some first class cricket and make lots of runs than take him on a tour where all he is going to learn is how to carry drinks down some stairs. I would however agree with you whole heartedly if the domestic season had finished.
Dylan
Guest
With all due respect Christian, I would much rather him stay in Australia play some first class cricket and make lots of runs than take him on a tour where all he is going to learn is how to carry drinks down some stairs. I would however agree with you whole heartedly if the domestic season had finished.
Dylan
Guest
With all due respect Christian, I would much rather him stay in Australia play some first class cricket and make lots of runs than take him on a tour where all he is going to learn is how to carry drinks down some stairs. I would however agree with you whole heartedly if the domestic season had finished.
Bearfax
Guest
Seems I recall the same comments about Smith and Warner a few years back. I think you'll find that's part of development
Dan Ced
Roar Rookie
He looked one of the worst batters in BBL03, he was horrid, I think he had 2 decent scores and the rest were garbage. His form was verging on good for AUS A but he has dropped down the order in my opinion. We simply need players with 1 or 2 more years of shield experience than Maddinson currently has.. or we will have another series like India in India.
Bearfax
Guest
Oh you are a naughty boy
jameswm
Guest
And the good thing is we now have a reasonably settled batting lineup, so we can let the young guns slug it out for a year or two. He who scores the most FC runs gets in. Simple.
Brett McKay
Expert
"But, he is only 22, so he’s got plenty of time on his hands to do just that.."
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Lynn scored a ton in the tour game v England when he was playing for WA. Fantastic ton it was too. I saw it. I'm a big fan now. He's very combative and has an equally good front and back foot game.
Bearfax
Guest
Lynn is certainly a quality player and though no centuries so far this season (like Maddinson) he has been consistent in his scoring. I'm certainly not under-appreciating Lynn's ability and in fact there are similarities between the two, both being junior prodigies and both playing an attacking style of cricket ergo their one day selections. Silk I'm still waiting to see and will have a better feel for the batsmen when he's played at least 20 first class games. But for mine Maddinson looks the goods especially when considering he's only just turned 22. Lynn is certainly my second choice at this stage but I've got it as Maddinson Lynn Silk Burns. Also waiting to see if young Head shows more than he has been up to now.
SteveOL
Roar Pro
Perfect. Then again, if it was that easy Shaun Marsh would have more than 8 tons and 25 fifties from 154 hits.
davros
Guest
I watched one of silks tons at the Adelaide oval ...It was the first game after the new drop in pitches were employed and they were like concrete roads with absolutely NOTHING for the bowlers ...all he had to do was bat time and not play any rash loose shots ...which is exactly what he did...it was almost like shooting fish in a barrel ....but he was smart enough to realize another ton was there for the taking and he went out and made sure of it .....hardly playing anything square and leaving any good length balls. Basically a chanceless determined patient test type knock .
SteveOL
Roar Pro
Love the look of Maddinson but I'm coming around to Silk. You just can't make ton after ton without being a gun. Then again that's why I keep defending Hughes.
Ducko
Guest
I'm not sure how you can compare Maddinson to Watkins? Surely Muirhead to Watkins makes more sense? A left of field selection, except Muirhead had more success. And what's wrong with a push for Maddinson? Where he comes from should be irrelevant (Silk is also from NSW for what it's worth). Maddinson, Silk, Lynn have all got great potential. It's up to them to show consistent form at Shield level if they are to be given a chance at test level.
davros
Guest
Bearfax if we had to promote a young gun right now imho it should be Lynn who had a bit of a form lapse and a bad injury ....but any reasonable judge can see this kid has the goods . Although I do worry 20 20 could stuff his technique. I really like the look of silk who is quite methodical with a careful and considerd tight looking technique and 4 1st class tons from 11 games speaks volumes ...but again I would say go score another 5 tons over the next season and a half and if there was a vacancy ...... he is also a gun fielder something the real good test class ones often have. ( also I believe this kid should be payed not to play t/20 ...it is so not his go and we risk ruining what he has naturally ie patience ,test type technique. Madinson is obviously a quality player...but I get the same feeling with him that I had all along with Khawaja albeit not as badly ( and im yet to be proven wrong about khawaja.... and I took some serious flak on here when I did not rate him ) there seems to be something not quite test class missing with madinson ( I also get it with Burns )and until he posts consistent scores and tightens up I really think he is 3rd 4th or 5th in the queue ESPECIALLY if we are considering doolan Hughes and even Khawaja
davros
Guest
don't know ...I hope not but I remember him retiring off the Newcastle tugs about 11 years ago and I haven't seen him around ...I don't know how he went in his brief international career...I just got told that he had no time for the chappel bros...as they had not agreed with his selection and didn't rate him and so had treated him accordingly ...did he take any wickets ?
Bearfax
Guest
Bit off the mark there Marcus (excuse the pun). Both Maddinson and Smith started when aged 18 years, but Smith only played one game in his first season. And remember Smith is over two and a half years older than Maddinson. In fact Maddinson didnt have a stand out year to start averaging only 39.7 in his first year. Smith averaged 33, but that was one game. In their second season Maddinson averaged 30.1, but Smith only averaged 22. Smith had a golden year in the 2009-10 season averaging 78 to Maddinsons 35.5 in his third year. But Smith dropped back to 31.2 in his fourth year while Maddinson is averaging 38.2. So Maddinson has been the more consistent in those initial years and after a good start, he faltered and has been climbing back up ever since. Smith's averages over the 7 years he has been playing Sheffield Shield have been 33, 22, 78, 31, 41, 37 and this year he has peaked again at 63.4. Therefore but for his purple patch in 2009-10, Smith has generally averaged year by year less than Maddinson at the same age and experience . Further Smith plays down the list whereas Maddinson plays opener or first drop, a much harder batting position.
a punter
Guest
Yes, he is still a work in progress in some ways and still has a lot of potential to improve. When you consider his adventurous shot making his stats are even more remarkable.
a punter
Guest
Silk's temperament and rate of centuries are remarkable, so fair points. He just needs to reproduce this hot form in coming seasons.
Deccas
Guest
I'm well behind that statement too. Lynn looks the goods.