Nic Maddison must hope selectors keep the faith after another Test innings failure

AUSTRALIA’S youth-first policy is set to be put to the ultimate test after Nic Maddinson put himself at the mercy of selectors after another unconvincing innings.

Wahab Riaz claimed the wicket of Nic Maddison. Picture: Getty Images

AUSTRALIA’S youth-first policy is set to be put to the ultimate test after Nic Maddinson put himself at the mercy of selectors.

After making a duck on debut in Adelaide, Maddinson was lucky to avoid another zero at the Gabba before departing meekly anyway five balls later for an unconvincing one.

It’s an inauspicious start for the man Australia picked on “gut-feel” rather than numbers and Australia must now decide how long they’re prepared to trust their instincts for.

Long-time fringe player Shaun Marsh is set to be fit by Boxing Day following thumb surgery and Maddinson will now be desperately hoping Pakistan make a game of this first Test otherwise it could be game over for him.

If Maddinson doesn’t get a second chance with the bat to redeem himself in Brisbane, his only hope for survival will be the unique circumstances that prompted his selection in the first place.

LISTEN: Robert Craddock and Cate McGregor discuss Pakistan’s stunning collapse on day two of the first Test in Brisbane, with Australia closing in on a crushing win.

Steve Smith has virtually admitted exercising a “captain’s pick” to get Maddinson over the line with a torn selection panel, adamant that this is the game-changer Australia need at No.6.

Nic Maddison walks off the Gabba after scoring one in the first innings against Pakistan. Picture: Getty Images

This is not a black and white selection conundrum, because Marsh has threatened for years to cement himself as a Test star without ever actually doing so — plus his last few Tests have been as an opener.

The case for Marsh centres on the fact that injury aside, he’s enjoying the best 12 months of his career, and his expert skills against spin bowling make him an almost must-have for February’s Test tour of India.

However, at 33 years of age, Marsh is the kind of player the Australian selection panel deliberately tried to move away from with the historic mass overhaul that followed the Hobart Test.

Maddinson’s fate depends on how committed Australia is to generational change and the edict handed down from the board to look to the youth.

The jury is well and truly out on whether he is up to it, but it would seem two Test innings is too soon to write off a prospect that the captain and selectors felt so passionate about.

Maddinson popped up a simple chance off spinner Yasir Shah and should have gone for a duck if not for some incompetent fielding.

Maddison was dimissed caught behind. Picture: Peter Wallis

And he never recovered.

Nerves appeared to tie Maddinson in a knot and he was an easy kill for Pakistan speedster Wahab Riaz.

However, Smith and other former Australian captains believe in the 360 degree run-making ability of Maddinson who has every shot in the book.

A first-class average of 37 might suggest he’s not ready, but Australia may not really know where they stand with Maddinson unless they give him all of this series.

Marsh can wait for India if selectors are patient, and who knows whether Australia still see him as a middle-order option?

The other player under the pump to justify his call-up is Matthew Wade who is yet to score a run since being brought back — for his batting — as the wicket-keeping replacement for Peter Nevill.

It was only two matches ago that Nevill scored 179 not out in a Sheffield Shield game and in India, keeping perfection will be required.

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Originally published as Nic Maddison must hope selectors keep the faith after another Test innings failure