Steve Smith throws his support behind Nic Maddinson to open for Australia

A veteran domestic star long off the Test radar is Steve Smith’s pick to open the batting for Australia against India.

Steve Smith has declared former Test batter Nic Maddinson could be the ready made “Davey replacement” and the aggressive opening partner for Usman Khawaja against India after a day full of failures for the men most likely.

Maddinson, now 32, played the last of his three Tests nearly a decade ago, in 2016, and has shifted back to NSW this summer after several successful Shield seasons with Victoria.

The left-hander was dumped from the Test team after making just 27 runs across four innings for Australia, elevated after a disastrous loss to South Africa in Hobart in the summer of 2016/17, along with Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb.

Maddinson has registered scores of 19, 12 and eight to open the Shield season for NSW but racked up runs for fun in six seasons with Victoria to put his name back in selector’s thoughts.

He compiled 2785 Shield runs at an average of 50.64, including 10 centuries, batting as an opener and at number three.

In assessing the potential inclusions for the series against India, after confirming Smith would move from opening to number four and needing a replacement for injured all-rounder Cameron Green, national selection chief George Bailey said Maddinson was someone they were keeping an eye on, despite not picking him for the Australia A squad which will play two four day games against India A.

Nic Maddinson of the Blues bats during the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Now Smith, after confirming his move back down the order was not something he asked for, has put Maddison’s name on the list, declaring he “goes after the ball” much in the same way was Warner.

“There’s a few really good candidates, guys that have, done really well the last few years,” Smith said.

“[Cameron] Bancroft and the usual suspects that have been talked about. Maddo I think is also another really good candidate. He’s had a good couple of years. If you’re looking for someone similar to a Davey replacement, he gets after the ball and can score really quickly.

“So he’s someone who probably hasn’t been spoken about a great deal from all you guys in the last little bit, but I think he’s someone that could definitely play test cricket and have a similar impact to what Davey sort of had at the top, the way he plays. So plenty of options. We’ll wait and see.”

National selector Tony Dodemaide was at the MCG on Monday as was Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald who watched as Maddinson was out for 19, one of 15 wickets to fall in the clash between NSW and Victoria.

Originally published as Steve Smith throws his support behind Nic Maddinson to open for Australia