Cancer survivor Nic Maddinson returned to Test cricket after battling testicular cancer, but Marco Jansen dismissed the Australian opener for a duck against South Africa.
Nic Maddinson has been added to Australia's Test squad for the series against South Africa, marking a significant comeback over a year after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. He joins reserve wicketkeeper Sam Harper, as Josh Inglis is out with a fractured finger and Cameron Green is being monitored for an abdominal strain. Maddinson, who last played a Test in 2016, has shown strong form recently, including a century in the One-Day Cup.
Pat Cummins hailed Australia's grit and ruthlessness in their 214-run win over South Africa, praising Matt Renshaw's rescue act, Josh Hazlewood's six-wicket haul and the selectors' decisions.
Travis Head launched a fiery defence of Australia's Test team, lambasting former players for unfair criticism while backing Nic Maddinson's recall and dismissing doubts over his opening role.
Australia's cricket coach Andrew McDonald indicated that selectors remain open to further changes in the batting order for the second Test against South Africa, depending on the pitch conditions in Gqeberha. This follows a successful, albeit surprising, lineup in the first Test where Nic Maddinson opened and Matt Renshaw excelled at number five. While former captain Steve Waugh urged consistency, McDonald emphasised the panel's flexible approach. The team is also monitoring the fitness of Cameron Green and Josh Inglis.
Temba Bavuma's career-best 179 powered South Africa to 425 for nine declared, with record partnerships alongside Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer before Kagiso Rabada struck early against Australia.
Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw led Australia's fightback against South Africa, adding an unbeaten 63-run stand before bad light ended the opening day at 187/6.
Matt Renshaw's outstanding performance in Australia's Test victory over South Africa has solidified his middle-order spot, but the team still faces uncertainty regarding its opening batting combination. Travis Head's suitability at the top of the order is questioned, while Nic Maddinson's inconsistent debut adds to the dilemma. The article also highlights strong bowling performances from Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, and the team's challenging schedule ahead.
Australia's cricket team is facing significant selection challenges and tough decisions regarding their line-up for the series-deciding third Test against South Africa in Cape Town, following a heavy innings defeat in the second match.
Australia were bowled out for 99 in their first innings, trailing South Africa by 326 runs.
Australia's assistant coach Matthew Wade has warned his team to expect a more dangerous and aggressive South African attack with pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada poised to return for the second Test in Gqeberha, following his absence from the first match due to a hamstring injury.
Australia need six wickets on final day to win first Test as South Africa were reduced to 102 for 4 at stumps on day four in Durban.
Steve Smith created history with a record 223rd Test catch as Australia took a 139-run lead over South Africa on Day 3 of the first Test at Kingsmead on Sunday.
Australia and South Africa are set to begin a three-match Test series in Durban, with both teams looking for a boost after recent setbacks. The pitch at Kingsmead is expected to favour spinners, a departure from South Africa's usual seamer-friendly conditions, potentially influencing team selections.
'It had spread to parts of my abdominal lymph nodes and lung. That was a bit where it was pretty daunting'
Maxwell scored unbeaten five runs and picked two wickets to help his club Fitzroy Doncaster secure a win over Geelong. On the other hand, Maddinson played a knock of 58 for St Kilda to beat Casey-South Melbourne.
With Green out with injury, Bancroft's chances have brightened.
Batsman Nic Maddinson has withdrawn from Australia A's match against Pakistan on mental health grounds, Cricket Australia said on Saturday.
Mitchell Marsh, Nic Maddinson and Josh Inglis have been called in as additional cover.
Promising batsman Will Pucovski ruled himself out of selection for Australia's Test series against Pakistan due to "matters pertaining to mental wellbeing", Cricket Australia said on Thursday.
CA put out an advertisement for the new position of a 'Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead', who will report to the board's head of sports science and medicine Alex Kountouris.
Cowan says Australia needed to do more to look after the mental health of young players tossed out of the top level
Opener Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson will all play their first Tests at Adelaide Oval after selectors wielded the axe following the Hobart humiliation, which gave South Africa an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
The 21-year-old Molineux, who plays for Melbourne Renegades in the Women's Big Bash League, has requested for a break and will not be travelling with the Renegades squad to Ballarat for their match against Melbourne Stars on Saturday.
ill Pucovski has become the third Australian cricketer to report mental health problems to the team management in just over two weeks
Images from Day 1 of the Day-Night Tour match played in Sydney on Friday.
Australia will press for an Ashes series whitewash against England to boost their chances of making the final of the 2021-23 World Test Championship (WTC), spin spearhead Nathan Lyon said on Sunday.
Domingo said it is important that the cricketers share and open about any difficulties they face.
IMAGES from the tour match played between Australia A and India at the SCG in Sydney on Sunday.
Check out the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad for the eighth edition of the Indian Premier League.
Wriddhiman Saha's superior glovework may be given preference over Rishabh Pant's blazing blade in India's opening day-night Test against Australia, starting at the Adelaide Oval from Thursday.
Images from the second match of the Indian Premier League between Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Sharjah on Thursday.
Yuvraj Singh blasted a quickfire half-century in his comeback to international cricket to power India to victory against Australia in the one-off Twenty20 match in Rajkot, on Thursday.
Cricket Australia said on Tuesday that Test skipper Tim Paine will also captain the one-day international team during next month's tour of England
Skipper Manish Pandey's valiant century was in vain as India 'A' lost to Australia 'A' by one run in a high-scoring Quadrangular cricket series thriller in Mackay, Australia, on Tuesday.
Pace bowler Umesh Yadav claimed three wickets but Cameron Green hit an unbeaten century to give Australia A the lead on Day 2 of the three-day practice match against India A at the Drummoyne Oval, in Sydney, on Monday.
India A could not take advantage of a strong opening partnership and lost four quick wickets for an addition of just 16 runs as they ended the third day of their four-day game against Australia A at 158 for four, still needing 108 runs to avoid the innings defeat, in Brisbane on Saturday.
Photos from Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test match between Australia and Pakistan, played at the MCG on Tuesday
Yuvraj Singh made a sensational return to international cricket, blasting his way to an unbeaten 35-ball 77 as India beat Australia by six wickets in a high-scoring one-off T20, in Rajkot, on Thursday.
A groin injury has ruled David Warner out of at least the first Test against India and Australia coach Justin Langer says the temporarily vacant opening slot will go to the one who performs well for Australia 'A' in the upcoming tour games against the visitors.
