Shock Australian Test Call-Ups Raise Eyebrows Ahead of South Africa Tour

Nic Maddinson’s shock return to the Australian Test squad almost a decade after his last appearance has raised eyebrows ahead of the first match against South Africa.

It comes as the injury curse that has struck Australia in its tour of South Africa has worsened, with all-rounder Cameron Green under a cloud ahead of the first Test beginning next Friday.

Green suffered an abdominal strain in an ODI game on Wednesday, having previously banished questions about his spot with a superb century in Darwin against Bangladesh.

While there have been concerns over Green’s shoulder, Cricket Australia stated that the latest injury occurred while he was fielding in an Australian win in Potchefstroom.

He will be assessed over the next week to determine his fitness for the opening Test in Durban, marking Australia’s first series in the country since the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal.

Meanwhile, Matt Renshaw has been cleared of injury and will open the batting against South Africa, providing some stability at the top of the order.

With Australia already needing a replacement for Josh Inglis, who suffered a broken finger earlier in the ODI series, the concern surrounding Green is a major blow.

Selectors have called in Victorian wicketkeeper Sam Harper, who performed superbly for Australia A against India A, alongside Maddinson for cover.

Harper, 29, earned his selection after scoring 667 runs for Victoria in the most recent Sheffield Shield season, while 34-year-old Maddinson captains New South Wales.

“Sam gives us wicketkeeping cover as Josh continues his recovery while Nic provides flexibility throughout the batting order,” Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey said.

Maddinson recently scored 126 for New South Wales against Victoria in a one-day cup match, though his recall nearly ten years after his last Test has drawn mixed reactions from cricket analysts and observers.