Sheffield Shield: Nic Maddinson, Mackenzie Harvey to leave Victoria to kick off major player movement

The Sheffield Shield player transfer merry-go-round is about to kick off with some blockbuster moves, and a host of stars set to leave Victoria as players make plans to move across the country.

Victorian cricket is bracing for the loss of leading batter Nic Maddinson.

The 32-year-old left-hander is being linked with a return to NSW and a move to Big Bash League affiliate Sydney Thunder.

The former Test player cracked three centuries in four Sheffield Shield matches through February and March.

But bittersweet was the taste of a season in which he came back to cricket after an ACL injury he suffered in the 2022-23 Big Bash.

As captain, he could not get going for the Melbourne Renegades and was eventually left out of the team.

Nic Maddinson has made big contributions for Victoria, seen here celebrating a century. Picture: Getty

Maddinson has been a fine servant of the Vics since being dumped by NSW and arriving in Melbourne as an uncontracted player in 2018.

That season he was called up to the Victorian team and averaged 80.42 from five Shield matches.

In 2019-20 he blitzed 780 runs at 86.66, with a highest score of 224, to land the Bill Lawry Medal as Victoria’s Sheffield Shield player of the year.

He had earlier been crowned the joint winner of the national Shield award.

Maddinson also took the Bill Lawry Medal in 2021-22.

He has captained the Renegades for the past three seasons in the BBL.

Speculation about his return to NSW has been swirling in Victorian cricket for a few weeks and it’s understood he has told Vic officials he will be going back to his home state.

Maddinson started his career out at the Blues – and is set to make a return. Picture: Getty

Meanwhile, ex-Victorian batter and Renegades tyro Mackenzie Harvey is poised to join South Australia.

Harvey was axed by the Vics at the end of last season but enjoyed a prolific campaign with Carlton.

The left-hander was part of the Carlton grand final team that thrillingly turned around a first-innings loss to win the premiership over Casey South Melbourne.

Harvey played a handful of matches for the Melbourne Renegades in place of Maddinson during his form slump but is out of contract.

It’s understood the Vics will also part ways with mature-age quickie Matt Fotia, who was on a one-year deal.

Fotia captured 36 Premier Cricket wickets this summer but battled for form in the Victorian Second XI, taking just three wickets from his four matches.

Some of his best bowling came against the Pakistan Test side during a tour match in December, claiming 2-44 and 1-15 in Victoria’s win over the tourists.

Western Australia’s Josh Philippe is another state star who looks to be on the move. Picture: Getty

Elsewhere, NSW batter Jason Sangha will also join SA, which last week lost coach Jason Gillespie.

The futures of NSW veterans Kurtis Patterson and Daniel Hughes are also uncertain, but Josh Philippe is set to move from Western Australia to join NSW, where he already plays for the Sydney Sixers.

Fellow gloveman Baxter Holt could head the other way to WA, which is also eyeing ex-Melbourne Stars and Vics paceman Brody Couch.

Young NSW quick Tom Straker is being linked to a rookie spot in SA.

Test spinner Matt Kuhnemann is set to move from Queensland to Tasmania.

Originally published as Sheffield Shield: Nic Maddinson, Mackenzie Harvey to leave Victoria to kick off major player movement