WHEN Nic Maddinson walks out for Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday’s third test against South Africa, he will join a select band, not only those who have worn the coveted baggy green but will be just the second Shoalhaven cricketer to gain the sports’s greatest honour.
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The 24-year-old will join Ian Davis, who until Sunday afternoon, had been the Shoalhaven’s only Test cricketer.
It’s a tag Davis is certainly happy to share.
“I think it’s fantastic, Nic as another Shoalhaven product, has been picked for Australia,” he said.
“I definitely don’t mind sharing.”
Davis played 15 Tests and three One Day Internationals for Australia from 1973 to 1977 before moving to World Series Cricket. He retired from first class cricket in 1984.
“Someone said to me the other day, if I was a selector what would I do,” Davis said.
“I said I would pick guys that had talent rather than worrying about scores. Nic’s was one name I mentioned.
“So I feel pretty happy with myself. Especially as he is a Shoalhaven boy.
“Everyone is worried about them [batsmen] scoring runs. But the cream always comes to the top.
“Nic is a good player and will do well. He has that X factor about him.
“I believe he should have been picked 18 months to two and a half years ago when he was going really well.
“Once you know players have got the goods they will always perform.”
Davis said Maddinson, with close to 60 firsts class games under his belt, having already played for Australia in Twenty20 and the Australian A team, would be far better prepared when he made his debut as a 20-year-old in December 1973 against New Zealand after just five first class matches.
He’s been around a while and played a lot of first class cricket. He won’t be overawed by the occasion.
- Shoalhaven Test crickter Ian Davis
“Nic will be in a far better position than I was,” he said.
“He’s been around a while and played a lot of first class cricket. He won’t be overawed by the occasion.
“That experience will hold him in good stead. He’s got the experience to handle it. He will definitely know what to expect. He’s a good player, he will do well.”
He said it was great to see another Country player make it at the top level.
“This is just rewards for all the good old boys who have done so much for the game in the Shoalhaven,” he said.
“The likes of my Dad (Alan), Foster (Emery) who started the legacy and was continued by the likes of Bob Webster,” he said.
“It’s nice to see.”
Shoalhaven Cricket life member Bob Webster is pleased for Nic and his family.
“His parents and family have had a lot of input in his career and this is great for them as well,” he said.
“It is also great for the district. He was brought up here, started his cricket here and it is good for us as an association as well. It shows young people what you can achieve if they wish to apply themselves.
“I remember we selected him as a 10-year-old in the Shoalhaven under 12 rep team.
“He always had talent we all knew that.”
He said the selection of Renshaw, Handscombe and Nic was a step in the right direction.
“I’ve said for the last three or four years our [Australia’s] batting needed some fine tuning and I think they have gone the right way picking some youth,” he said.
“I just hope Nic sticks to his instincts. I get the feeling he has changed his game this season and seems more intent to staying there and scoring instead of trusting his instinct. I hope he reverts to that.”
Mr Webster has been fortunate to watch Maddinson in action in a number of Sheffield Shield matches and said it was not unusual to catch up with the former local at the games.
“I’ve watching him at the SCG, Bankstown and Manuka Oval in Canberra and he is always only too willing to give his time and have a chat, which is terrific for a young fellow to do that.”
Fellow life member and the Shoalhaven’s longest serving president David Sloane paid credit to Nic’s parents Lee and Leslee.
“I know Lee took on a pretty strong interest in those early days and got him going,” he said.
“His selection is also an example of the great programs and pathways available through Country cricket.
“Nic came through the local rep scene, the Bradman Cup, Southern Zone and Country teams. I think this shows the strength of the Country program and the great job they do in identifying players and having centres of excellence programs.
“Nic’s selection is a great thing for the association as well, having another player teach that level is brilliant.”
Over the 15 plus years I sat next South Coast Register cricket writer Alan Clark we saw numerous players come and go.
We were always mindful of never putting a tag on a player as possibly the next Shoalhaven Test cricketer.
Well at least publically.
Alan and I were keen followers of Nic’s career.
And we always discussed and hoped between ourselves that he would indeed follow in Ian Davis’ footsteps and don the baggy green.
I remember seeing Nic as a youngster playing rep cricket for the Shoalhaven in the under 12s.
Even at that early stage there was something special about the gritty little left hander. You just knew he was destined for bigger and better things.
From there he started grade with Rugby Union and then moved onto South Coast Cricket with Warilla Sports, making state teams and finally national junior teams, including being a member of the Australian under 19s that won the World Cup in 2010.
A move to Sydney was inevitable and playing with Sutherland he forced his way into the NSW Sheffield Shield team in 2010-11 and at age 18 became the youngest man to score a century on first-class debut for New South Wales.
But he was not above playing school cricket, along with his Bomaderry High teammates they went deep into the statewide Davidson Shield Competition.
Naturally he has a place in Shoalhaven sporting history, a three-time winner of the Shoalhaven Sportstar of the Year award, he was also a grant recipient of the Bernie Regan Sporting Trust.
And he has never forgotten those roots. He always makes himself available for interviews or provide information when required and has made himself available for Trust functions on numerous occasions when commitments allow.