Nic Maddinson's long-awaited return to Test cricket ended in disappointment on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa in Durban on October 9, 2026, as the Australian opener was dismissed without scoring after facing 33 balls — an unwanted record for an Australian opener.
Opening the batting with Travis Head after Australia won the toss and chose to bat, Maddinson was bowled by Marco Jansen in the first session, with Australia at 24 for 2, according to WION. The 33-ball stay is the longest duck by any Australian opener in Test history, eclipsing David Warner's 22-ball duck at Hobart in 2022.
A record no batter wants
Gulf News reported that, per Code Sports' Daniel Cherny, it is also the longest duck by any Test opener in the 21st century. The dismissal capped a remarkable comeback story: the 34-year-old Maddinson last played a Test against Pakistan in December 2016 — his debut had come against South Africa in Adelaide the previous month — and has fought his way back into the side for his fourth Test after battling testicular cancer in 2025 and undergoing chemotherapy.
Series context
The match is Australia's first Test tour of South Africa since the 2018 "Sandpapergate" ball-tampering scandal, and opens a three-Test series against the reigning World Test Championship holders. WION reported that Head fell for 9 at 17, Maddinson departed at 24/2, and Australia reached the first-session break at 84 for 3 with Steve Smith unbeaten on 25. For Maddinson, the record is an unwelcome footnote to a remarkable comeback — the opener's next innings will be watched closely as Australia look to build a first-innings total in Durban.
Sources:
AUS vs SA: Maddinson, back after decade-long Test hiatus, faces most balls by an Aussie opener, but for a duck (WION)
Nic Maddinson's 33-Ball Duck Sets Unwanted Record in Australia vs South Africa Test (Gulf News)
Opening the batting with Travis Head after Australia won the toss and chose to bat, Maddinson was bowled by Marco Jansen in the first session, with Australia at 24 for 2, according to WION. The 33-ball stay is the longest duck by any Australian opener in Test history, eclipsing David Warner's 22-ball duck at Hobart in 2022.
A record no batter wants
Gulf News reported that, per Code Sports' Daniel Cherny, it is also the longest duck by any Test opener in the 21st century. The dismissal capped a remarkable comeback story: the 34-year-old Maddinson last played a Test against Pakistan in December 2016 — his debut had come against South Africa in Adelaide the previous month — and has fought his way back into the side for his fourth Test after battling testicular cancer in 2025 and undergoing chemotherapy.
Series context
The match is Australia's first Test tour of South Africa since the 2018 "Sandpapergate" ball-tampering scandal, and opens a three-Test series against the reigning World Test Championship holders. WION reported that Head fell for 9 at 17, Maddinson departed at 24/2, and Australia reached the first-session break at 84 for 3 with Steve Smith unbeaten on 25. For Maddinson, the record is an unwelcome footnote to a remarkable comeback — the opener's next innings will be watched closely as Australia look to build a first-innings total in Durban.
Sources:
AUS vs SA: Maddinson, back after decade-long Test hiatus, faces most balls by an Aussie opener, but for a duck (WION)
Nic Maddinson's 33-Ball Duck Sets Unwanted Record in Australia vs South Africa Test (Gulf News)
