Victoria’s plan to get best out of enigmatic batsman Nic Maddinson

Finding ways to keep players fresh in an extremely long summer is as important as working on skills that for elite players never really disappear, says Victorian coach Andrew McDonald.

Nic Maddinson celebrates his century against Queensland. Picture: Getty

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Facing more balls in the nets was the last thing Victorian batsman Nic Maddinson needed after a horror Big Bash run.

So instead the coaching staff sent him away for a week before he was required to pad up when the Sheffield Shield resumed against Queensland and a century in a winning side was the result.

Victoria are perched comfortably on the top of the table going in to the clash with Tasmania at the Junction Oval starting Tuesday and man-management has been a key reason for the team’s success.

Nic Maddinson has returned from his break refreshed and hungry for runs. Picture: AAP

A season that began in September with the domestic one-day competition, which Victoria won, could stretch in to April should they make the Shield final and take it to a fifth day.

Finding ways to keep his players fresh is as important as working on skills that for elite players McDonald said never really disappear.

“Some people will say after a lean spell you should be in the nets working harder, but sometimes you need a break and that can be just as good as any net session,” McDonald said.

“(Maddinson) was able to identify that with us and we gave him that space, he came in nice and fresh.

“Sometimes that’s the battle in long seasons, you have to take that opportunity to get away from the game.

Maddinson returned and delivered a key century in Victoria’s win over Queensland. Picture: AAP

“You are expected to make good decisions over and over again, and sometime you are not as mentally fresh as you can be, you make poor decisions, and people start tearing apart your whole game.

“It could be as simple as a day off here and there that could freshen you up.”

The Vics will likely take an unchanged line-up in to the clash with Tassie, having had last weekend off, and a win could almost guarantee a spot in yet another Shield final.

McDonald said confidence was high but not because of the “special” effort it took to chase down 300 on the final day last week and win.

“The confidence is always there because the players believe in their abilities and that doesn’t change on the back of a win or a loss. The ability is there all the time,” he said.