Australia have sent Nic Maddinson home ahead of the third and final Test against South Africa. The decision comes after the opener's poor outings in the Test series.
Australia are likely to have more changes in their line-up as well.Nic Maddinson was out for 0 after facing 33 deliveries in Durban Test. (AP Photo) Australia have decided to send Nic Maddinson home from their tour of South Africa after a two-Test experiment failed to deliver the desired results. Maddinson, who returned to the Australian Test squad after a 10-year absence, has been put on a flight back to Australia ahead of the third and final Test of the series.The left-hander lasted just four innings on the tour, with his second-innings 48 in the first Test in Durban his only significant contribution.
He also registered a 33-ball duck and a three-ball duck in separate innings as Australia reassessed their opening combination ahead of the series decider in Cape Town.Maddinson's promotion to the opening position had allowed Matthew Renshaw to move into Cameron Green's No.5 spot, helping Australia counter South Africa's two spinners in their win in Durban. However, the lack of runs from Maddinson has prompted selectors to consider their options for the final Test.Australia selection chief George Bailey acknowledged that the team would have liked more runs from Maddinson but indicated that the batter could remain in contention for the home summer against New Zealand and the subsequent tour of India. "Performance-wise, would you have liked more runs?
Yes. Did it allow us to set the rest of the team up the way that we wanted to, whilst we're working with the group we have?
Yes," Bailey said.Bailey also stressed that Maddinson's return was not intended to be a temporary fix, suggesting that selectors would continue to assess his prospects for future assignments. "We wanted to be clear to him it wasn't a stop-gap and that's it, and it's a discard," Bailey said. "The same process we worked through to get him to be on the table for here, and ultimately to play, they'll be the same questions that we'll ask across the home summer to (the tour of) India as well."LABUSCHAGNE UNDER SCRUTINYMaddinson's departure is not the only selection question facing Australia ahead of the Cape Town Test. Marnus Labuschagne's position at No.3 is also under scrutiny after another series of starts without a substantial score.Labuschagne has scored 37, 37, 14 and 39 in his four innings in the series, extending a frustrating run of starts without converting them into a big score.
His last Test century came in 2023, and selectors are weighing whether his continued presence in the side is helping Australia build competitive totals.Bailey acknowledged that Labuschagne had shown positive signs but said the team needed to consider the wider impact of his performances."We're seeing some good things, yes, (but) is there a block at the moment around 30s? Yes," Bailey said. "(He is) still contributing in terms of his ability to get through a number of balls."Bailey added that the decision would come down to whether Labuschagne's contributions were helping Australia achieve their objectives."So it's a decision around what does that look like if (Labuschagne) gets through there versus what does it look like for the collective is it helping others around him?
Is it helping the team get a result that we ultimately want?"Josh Inglis is an option to replace Labuschagne at first drop, with Green potentially returning to the No.5 position where he impressed against Bangladesh in August.QUESTIONS ON STEVE SMITH'S AVAILABILITYSteve Smith's availability is another concern for Australia. The senior batter has been dealing with neck stiffness that affected him during the second Test and limited his training in the Newlands nets on Sunday to around 20 minutes of gentle throwdowns.Smith has yet to score more than 30 in four innings in the series, adding to Australia's concerns about their batting.
However, coach Andrew McDonald indicated that the team remained hopeful he would be fit for the decider."He hasn't had the start he would like in this series. He's got a bit of a neck issue going at the moment.
You guys would have seen that play out in the nets," McDonald said."Today he'll progress (his training) – he didn't have his helmet on yesterday as well, so hopefully he progresses to (facing) bowlers."We feel like it's going to be a pretty steep progression ... he should be available."LYON IN CONTENTION FOR RETURNAustralia also face a difficult decision over the composition of their bowling attack. Nathan Lyon is a strong contender to return to the playing XI and provide a holding role, but there is no obvious candidate to make way among the four seamers who featured in the second Test in Gqeberha.Josh Hazlewood has recovered fully from the stomach bug that affected him last week, further complicating the selection call.Australia will need to settle their batting order and bowling combination before the third Test in Cape Town, with Maddinson's departure opening up another spot in a team already facing questions over its top order.Australia Squad for 3rd Test:Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.- Ends