Picking Maddinson over 23-year-old Cooper Connolly to replace injured all-rounder Cameron Greene, Australia named an all-11 over 30 for the first time in their history.
Another new name in an aging batting line-up from last winter’s Ashes was 30-year-old Matt Renshaw, who made his debut 10 years ago.
Maddinson played with his stumps after Travis Head, 32, was caught down the nine legs.
Later, 32-year-old Marnus Labuschagne struck beautifully for 37 before falling to Wiaan Mulder on the last ball before lunch. He has now gone 44 Test innings without a Test century.
And then, three balls after recovery, 37-year-old Steve Smith drove Jansen into the deep and then 35-year-old Alex Carey and 32-year-old Beau Webster fell in the space of three Anrich Nortje deliveries.
That left Renshaw digging in with captain Pat Cummins in the dark to extend the Australian innings.
Ahead of this Test, legendary former Australian player Matthew Hayden said the Australian selectors had “disrespected first-class cricket” by selecting Maddinson, whose only professional appearance since March 2025 included two 50-over knocks last month and four appearances in the Big Bash last winter.
Even Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg had to defend the lack of coherent planning during the lunch break.
“Obviously, our voters felt strongly that he was a talent and that’s why they chose him,” Greenberg told SEN.
“I understand why there are arguments, but I’m not going to sit here and go into options.”
This Test is Australia’s third of a possible 21 matches until the end of next summer’s Ashes – an unprecedented build-up that includes this tour against the world Test champions, a four-Test home series against New Zealand, a five-Test tour to India, a possible World Test final before the final contest against England.
The selectors can point out that, apart from Jake Weatherald, who struggled in the Ashes and has since been dropped, no other forward in last year’s Sheffield Shield averaged more than 40.
With 46 not out, Renshaw was recalled as a player to play in Bangladesh in August, also quieting questions about why he hit a five here. A left-hander-led recovery could win Australia this Test on a tough pitch expected to deteriorate.
But with Michael Neser, 36, and Scott Boland, 37, selected as stand-ins for Cummins, 33, Josh Hazlewood, 35, and Mitchell Starc, 36, wider doubts about Australia’s aging Test side are unlikely to go away.
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