Nic Maddinson admits he now sees cricket through a different lens. The 34-year-old left-hander returned to the Big Bash League this month, guiding Sydney Thunder past Melbourne Renegades with an unbeaten 30 from 17 balls, yet the runs almost feel secondary after what he has been through.
Diagnosed with testicular cancer last winter, Maddinson endured nine weeks of chemotherapy. Cricket slipped down the agenda; some mornings, simply getting out of bed was hard enough.
“My son was two-and-a-half years old and just wants to play,” Maddinson told AAP. “To not be able to have the energy to do that was probably the hard thing, or not have the energy to walk up the road and take him to the playground.”
The all-clear came shortly before the new domestic season. Instead of easing in, Maddinson joined Eastern Suburbs for club cricket, then slipped into New South Wales’ second XI. Four matches later he was back in the BBL, hitting the winning run against the Renegades.
“It’s probably as much fun as I’ve had playing cricket for a long time,” he said. “Six months ago, just to be out on the field and playing is something I wasn’t sure could happen this quickly.”
Those three Test caps earned back in 2016 may stay at three. Maddinson seems relaxed about it.
“It’s probably just a different attitude to it all. I just want to play,” he explained. “I thought I had a good opportunity at the start of last summer to try and put my hand up and it didn’t work out. Now it’s just about enjoying playing and whether I’ve got two years left or five years left, I don’t really know.
“But I’m still loving it, I’m enjoying it as much as I ever have and I’m still looking to improve. I think I’m probably better now than what I was 12 or 18 months ago as well. As long as that’s happening, I’ll keep looking to play.”
Friends rallied round during treatment. Adam Zampa, a mate since junior cricket, first heard the news while on IPL duty.
“Your automatic thoughts are the worst thoughts possible. Then it’s just like, what can you do as a best mate? Do whatever you can,” Zampa told AAP.
The moment the chemo finished, the Maddinsons flew to spend time with the Zampas. They still chat most days, usually about far more than cover drives or leg-breaks. On Monday night Zampa captained a beaten Renegades side but still left the field smiling.
“Seeing him fit and healthy and playing cricket again … I’m really happy for him,” Zampa said.
For now Maddinson’s ambitions are straightforward: score runs for Thunder, stake a claim for New South Wales, keep getting better. Whether a national recall follows is out of his control, and he has made peace with that.
Short-form cricket already moves fast; after a scare like his, it feels faster still. Maddinson will try to enjoy the ride—no guarantees, no grand predictions, just cricket played on his terms.
