Maddinson’s baggy green dream moment arrives

It’s the advice Wollongong-born batsman Phil Jaques has offered the next generation of South Coast talent Nic Maddinson for his Test debut, for the day-night match against South Africa in Adelaide starting on Thursday.

Maddinson will bat at No.6, meaning if Australia bat first, he potentially faces the treacherous hour where the pink ball transforms into a devastating bowling weapon, before the Adelaide Oval lights take hold from the fading natural light. 

Jaques believes Maddinson can cash in when he walks to the crease, just as he did when he scored 113 in his first innings for NSW, when they opened the batting together six years ago.  “There are runs to be made, in the afternoon and night sessions,” Jaques said. 

“But it’s that hour in between, as the lights take hold when you need to hang on to your hats. From the first moment I saw him, I knew he was an Australian prospect, he had all the attributes and we worked closely together when he came into Sydney grade cricket. He’s always been an ultra-talented ball striker, but it’s taken him a few years to become a more complete player and it’s great he has his chance now.”

Jaques, now the Queensland coach after playing 11 Tests for three centuries and six 50s for an average of 47.47, sent Maddinson a text message this week, congratulating him on his Test selection. 

As well as connecting the middle and lower orders, Maddinson is expected to be placed under the South African helmets at silly mid-on, after training in the position on Wednesday. 

Jaques admitted his delight at the South Coast production line continuing, 11 years after his Test debut and 17 years after Oak Flats quick Brett Lee was first terrorising Test batsmen. 

“I love seeing South Coast players going on to bigger and better things, I’ve still got family and friends down there,” he told the Mercury from Brisbane.

It comes as NSW teammate Pat Cummins, bowling in the Futures League game at North Dalton Park, was picked in the Australian one-day squad. ACT lead by more than 400 heading into the last day, after a rain interrupted afternoon on Wednesday.