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  • Australia Send Nic Maddinson Home With 1 More Player Steve Smith Status Unclear

Australia Send Nic Maddinson Home With 1 More Player, Steve Smith Status Unclear

Akshita Patel

Australia Sends Nic Maddinson Home [Source: AFP]Australia Sends Nic Maddinson Home [Source: AFP]

In a major squad development, Australia have dropped opener Nic Maddinson ahead of the third Test against South Africa. He will fly home while Steve Smith’s fitness and availability are still uncertain.

With the series levelled at 1-1, both sides will enter the third Test in Cape Town with a point to prove. And to achieve the goal of a series win, Australia have made a sweeping change to its squad for the final Test.

Nic Maddinson dropped from third Australia vs South Africa Test

Just hours before the third Test begins at Cape Town, Australia have dropped opener Nic Maddinson from the squad as he will fly back home. He was brought into the squad as a late replacement and played as an opener.

However, Nic struggled to score runs, recording three low scores across four innings, including two ducks. Hence, Australia have now decided to send him home, along with backup wicketkeeper Sam Harper.

The selectors apparently want both players to return to domestic cricket and score runs in the Sheffield Shield. But at the same time, CA chief selector George Bailey stressed that Maddinson’s departure does not mean Australia have given up on him.

“With him going home, it was wanting to be clear to him it wasn’t a stopgap and that’s it, and it’s a discard. They’ll be the same questions that we’ll ask across the home summer to India as well. So, just being clear with him and Harps that, yeah, they were here for the right reasons, but yeah, more runs,” Bailey told reports.

With Nic Maddinson gone, Australia will likely promote Marnus Labuschagne as opener. With Josh Inglis and Cameron Green also returning to the side, Marnus’ promotion makes sense for Australia.

Australia Updated Squad for 3rd Test vs South Africa- 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

Steve Smith’s availability still unconfirmed

Having said that, apart from Nic Maddinson, Australia could make another forced change as Steve Smith has not fully recovered from his neck injury. He sustained that setback during the second Test at Gqeberha. 

Australia coach Andrew McDonald said Smith had spent only around 20 minutes in the nets during a recent training session. Moreover, he was expected to progress through further training before the team made its final decision.  

"I think he had about 20 odd minutes in the nets, give or take. Today he’ll progress that. We feel like it’s going to be a pretty steep progression in terms of he should be available. You’ll see that play out in terms of what happens. But we’re confident that he will be available," McDonald said.

While McDonald remained optimistic that Smith would be available, his fitness had not yet been confirmed. Hence, Steve Smith’s potential unavailability could further shake up Australia’s batting order.