England Cricket 2026

North Lower Neil said:

Addick Addict said:

Addick Addict said:

Whatever the criticism regarding the selection of Nic Maddinson for the Australian Test squad (and you only have to read what some former players think of that to realise it is far from popular), from a humanity perspective and a lesson to others to get themselves checked out, it really is a great story that he has gone from being diagnosed with testicular cancer 18 months ago to playing cricket again yet alone for Australia. 

"Once I found out I had to have chemo, that was pretty hard to deal with. It had spread to parts of my abdominal lymph nodes and lung. That was a bit where it was pretty daunting."

Maddinson's wife Bianca was also pregnant with their second child when he began chemotherapy and had to quit her job as a dentist to look after their toddler son while Maddinson underwent treatment.

"By the second or third week, I lost all my hair. I was feeling pretty average. I was taking types of steroids to manage side effects, but they would keep me up at night. I'd be at the hospital from about 11am to 4pm. Then a sleep. Then I'd force myself to have dinner. I'd sleep until about 1am, but sometimes I'd then be awake until 6am. I found that difficult. I was super drained and felt like I had to sleep 24/7.

"I felt guilty. I couldn't do anything around the house."

It would really be fantastic if he was able to prove the doubters wrong but, even if he doesn't, somehow I think he'll be alright about that. Life and death really are more serious than football sport.

The knives were out for Maddinson once his selection had been made known and they will have been well and truly sharpened following his innings today. A naturally aggressive batter, he looked like someone who hadn't played any form of red ball for 18 months in making a 33-ball duck. That also included a negative LBW decision that wasn't reviewed by South Africa for a ball that was hitting the stumps.

Australia are currently 100-4 and in a touch of bother with Maddinson, Head, Labuschagne and Smith all back in the hutch. They are also back to their, tried and tested, bowling attack of Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon who now have an average age of 36. In fact, Australia do not have a player under the age of 30 (and only Renshaw is under 32) in their XI with an average age of almost 35. 

Their current issues makes last winter that much more galling - they aren't great, we were just even worse.

MarcusH26 said:

Addick Addict said:

This bunch of Aussies might have one last Ashes in them. Their batting will still be fragile and much will depend on whether they can keep Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Boland and Lyon fit. With our lack of a world class spinner, we'll be looking to prepare wickets to suit our seamers but that will favour them too. 

At some stage they've got to blood the next crop of Seamers. I wouldn't be surprised with his prolific county record if Fergus O'Neill is preferred to Boland.