I fail to see exactly how that is possible that New South Wales cricket – and Australian cricket for that matter – is going so well that Nic Maddinson is not considered to be good enough to warrant a State contract for the 2018/19 season.
Given the record of the batsmen in this state last season, it seems impossible that Maddinson is the only one who is being singled out to have his contract ripped up.
Maddinson’s unfortunate foray into the Test team last season has been well documented, as has his necessity to take a break from the game not long after it. His confidence was no doubt affected, and it seemed to show in the Sheffield Shield in the past season.
His first-class figures don’t lie and they don’t make a strong case for his retention, scoring just 307 runs at 23.81 in the Sheffield Shield in 2017/18, with his only half-century coming in the final game at Wollongong, a slashing 87 from 63 deliveries that felt as though he had decided his last chance to get out of his slump was to hit his way out.
Elsewhere though, he showed he has a talent that should still be being nurtured. He finished second in run aggregate in the JLT Cup in October, with 398 runs at 66.33 including two centuries. In the Big Bash he scored 291 runs at 32.33, with a strike rate of 145.
With this form, he has already signed for the Melbourne Stars for the next three seasons, leaving the Sydney Sixers for whom he has been a shining light in all seven seasons of the Big Bash League.
The Blues spent the second half of the season playing a batsman short, batting Peter Nevill at six and relying on Trent Copeland and Steven O’Keefe to score runs at seven and eight. This selection decision eventually cost Maddinson his place in the team when the Shield resumed in February, though it would also be fair to suggest his stats in the first five rounds (177 runs at 17.70) didn’t help his cause.
However, the fact that he was replaced by a bowler and that they produced fewer runs than what Nic had produced to that point left NSW vulnerable each innings, and it is a major reason they fell away after the BBL break.
What was the mindset of the selectors that they believed they could win games with just five specialist batsmen?
Having left him out during that time, it now appears that the brokers at Cricket New South Wales are going to cut him from their contracted list when it is announced. They have already dismissed the coach Trent Johnston (and have yet to replace him) and they appear to be looking for scapegoats for the squad’s lacklustre recent seasons in first class cricket.
And that is their prerogative.
On November 20, 2016, I took my then 9-year-old son Josh to the Shield match at the SCG between NSW and Victoria. We walked in and stood behind the nets, right behind Nic Maddinson. Nic was polite and friendly, asked us how we were, and chatted with us while he batted.
As he walked out of the nets back to the dressing rooms, he asked Josh if he would like his gloves. Hero worship made easy. We wished him luck for the day as NSW prepared to chase another 352 on the final day for victory.
Nic made 33, and the Blues lost by 198 runs. That afternoon as we drove home, Nic Maddinson was chosen to make his Test debut. My son still has his gloves in his room. So, I may be a little biased.
How do you justify casting aside a young man, still just 26 years of age, who has played three Tests and two T20 internationals for Australia less than two years ago? There need to be some serious questions asked of the setup of cricket in this state if they have failed so spectacularly in their support of a young cricketer in their squad.
If they honestly believe he is now not in the best dozen batsmen in the state, then there are problems deeper than just Maddinson’s batting form that needs to be addressed.
Whatever the motivation of NSW cricket is in choosing not to contract Nic Maddinson for next season, it appears short-sighted and unfair. Perhaps there are reasons behind the scenes that have not be revealed, but if it is purely in a cricketing sense then this looks like a petty and unjustifiable decision.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Only if he sorts out his technique and shot selection. If his eye and ball-striking is truly as good as some claim, there must be some significant reasons why his average is on the poor side of 35 after 70 odd FC matches. It's not like the domestic pitches in current years have been bowler-friendly too often.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
The fact that he played three tests isn't reason to give him a state contract. It is reason however, to seriously reconsider the selectors' positions. Maddinson not getting a state contract is nowhere near as silly as selecting him for a national side. Having said that, I don't know him personally or have a pair of his gloves, so the only information I have is his batting performances.
Bill Peters
Roar Guru
To be fair, if you see the two points you have mentioned as being my reasons for him deserving a state contract, you haven't really read the article too closely.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Of all of Tassie's bowlers to take multiple wickets in the JLT, only Milenko was less economical than Sandhu, and he's an allrounder.
Paul Potter
Roar Guru
Tasmania's one-day bowling line-up could use Sandhu. There are a lot of quicks but not many suited first to one-day cricket. Must admit that I thought they would pick Maddinson as well - for the same reason.
qwetzen
Guest
Your reasons for NM being retained by NSW appear to be; 1. He gave your kid a pair of gloves. 2. He played a couple of Tests. Otoh, he's played eight seasons (61 games) for NSW and in only one of those seasons was his batting average >= 40. Then there's the fact that his last three seasons have produced; 30.5, 33.8 and 24.4. So not really a tough decision for the selectors. Regarding his Test career, well, he never should have been picked, but his selection did do Aust cricket a major service. It provided a reason to remove MEW from the Test selection panel.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I wonder why Tassie would be looking at Sandhu? Our bowling unit is going from strength to strength. Maddinson is an enigma. He has an incredible eye, plenty of power and a solid enough technique. Seems like he’s stuck between his natural attacking game and a sense that he has to rein himself in and play responsibly - a bit like Mitch Marsh in his early forays into test cricket. I really think whichever team he plays for next season should put him at the top and give him freedom to play his shots. Take some pressure off him by not expecting him to build an innings. If he fails a couple of times either side of hitting 80 off 60 then so be it. That one knock could win a match.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Pretty strange decision, as was the decision to drop Fawad Ahmed for some off spinning child. Maddinson is at the very least one of the premier List A batsmen in the country, and a first class average of 34.75 is by no means poor relative to other Shield batsmen.
Tom Simon
Roar Pro
Moving to another state might be the breath of fresh air that Maddinson needs to find his best form. He's had the pressure of being 'the next big thing' in NSW cricket for a while, so to get away from that system might actually serve him well. He's a serious striker of the ball with a great eye, get the right coach for him and hopefully see him fulfil his immense potential
Mike from Tari
Guest
Funny decision but he will get a contract with another state, he will be a bit different to other New South Welshmen in that he isn't leaving the State because he couldn't get a go, like Gilly, but he will hit heaps of runs for his new state.
AREH
Roar Guru
Plenty of time for him to win it back. I still maintain the farcical test selection when he was out of form (hardly his fault being selected) threw things out for him mentally, and he's struggled to recover since, even in the shorter forms to an extent.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Maddinson needs to make way for the next unknown New South Welshman to make his Australian debut!
i miss the force
Guest
you dont know him, a 30 second interaction doesnt reveal character
Mick Jeffrey
Roar Rookie
I don't think he'd be that fazed with a decent BBL contract to fall back on. Plus he's only a partial scapegoat with Sandhu also seemingly shown the door (albeit with Tassie showing interest).