Nic Maddinson recovered from broken arm and ready for Melbourne Stars Big Bash debut

A broken arm ruined the start of the Big Bash season for new Melbourne Star Nic Maddinson. Now pain free, the former Sydney Sixer is targeting a Team Green debut in the next week. Could he be a SuperCoach sleeper?

One-time Australian batsman Nic Maddinson is tracking to make his Melbourne Stars debut in the next week, having recovered from a broken arm.

On New Year’s Day he faced bowlers for the first time in the nets and while he’s put his hand up to play for the Stars against Sydney Thunder on the Gold Coast tomorrow a return is more likely against the Scorchers at the MCG on Wednesday night.

Maddinson, dumped by NSW before making a new home in Victoria this summer, made 162 in his first Sheffield Shield outing for the Vics but in his second innings suffered a broken arm after copping the full brunt of a Jhye Richardson fast ball.

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Nic Maddinson suffered a broken arm when he was struck by a Jhye Richardson fastball during the Sheffield Shield. Picture: AAP

He had surgery on December 10 with a plate and about six screws inserted along his forearm.

“When I actually had the surgery the surgeon told me he thought I could be back playing in four weeks … I was a little bit wary at the start but after I had that first hit I’ve just done what’s comfortable,” Maddinson told the Herald Sun.

“I haven’t gone too hard and played too early. Sometimes the desire to play can cloud your judgment a little bit.

“I’ve tried to take a cautious, measured approach.

“I don’t want to play a few games and then in a couple of weeks’ time have to pull out because it’s hurting.”

Maddinson was focussed on a big BBL season with his new club... Picture: Getty Images

...before disaster struck. Picture: Mark Stewart

He is pain free and started batting again on Christmas Eve.

“It seems to be pulling up better and better after everything I do,” he said.

“So I thought, why not push it a bit harder and try and play.

“I was a little bit wary (at the start) but it didn’t hurt at all … it’s all looking good at the moment.”

Once a Sixer: Maddinson plunders one of his six boundaries in six balls off then Melbourne Star James Faulkner. Picture: Getty Images

***Maddinson could be a sneaky SuperCoach BBL pickup. At $136,700, the batsman is awkwardly priced, but is coming off a brilliant BBL07 season for the Sydney Sixers where he topped the club’s run scoring list with 291 off 200 balls at an average of 32.33. He clubbed 14 sixes — double that of the Sixers’ next best, Joe Denly — and his runs came at nearly one-and-a-half per ball (145.5 strike rate). Maddinson had a high score of 62 off 31 balls and produced one of the highlights of the season when he smashed six consecutive boundaries off then-Star James Faulkner. The Stars don’t have a bye until Round 11 and enjoy double games in rounds 10 and 13.

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