In the first Test match against South Africa held in Durban, Australian opener Nick Maddinson was dismissed for a duck after facing 33 balls. Maddinson established a new record in Test cricket history for the most balls faced without scoring any runs.
Making his return to the Australian Test side for the first time since 2016 due to Cameron Green’s injury, Maddinson stayed at the crease for 49 minutes during the match played on 23rd October in Kathmandu but failed to score any runs. He was dismissed attempting a cut shot off Marco Jansen’s bowling, where the ball struck the inside edge of the bat and hit the stumps.
Maddinson ranks third on the list of openers who have faced the most balls before getting out for zero in Test cricket. The record is topped by New Zealand’s Darrin Murray, who faced 39 balls against Sri Lanka in 1995, followed by Zimbabwe’s Trevor Gripper, who faced 36 balls against the West Indies in 2000.
This match marked Maddinson’s first Test appearance since the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan in 2016. He was recalled to the squad due to Cameron Green’s injury. Last month, Maddinson scored 126 runs in a domestic one-day competition representing New South Wales. Despite some questions about his selection, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins expressed confidence in Maddinson’s recent form and preparation. Furthermore, Maddinson’s return holds personal significance as he underwent chemotherapy for testicular cancer about 18 months ago.
