New Delhi:<\/b> Australia batter Nic Maddinson, reflecting on the criticism of his surprise call-up to the Test side against South Africa, said he didn\u2019t believe the selectors had given him a difficult task with his Test recall and was happy to have the opportunity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Maddinson's fairytale call-up to the Test side earned a special nod when he was picked for the playing XI for the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead last month.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Eighteen months after undergoing chemotherapy for testicular cancer, the left-handed batter opened the innings alongside Travis Head but fell short of expectations in his first Test series in nearly 10 years.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 34-year-old could only manage 0, 48, 0 and 8 across the first two Tests before being released ahead of the series decider in Cape Town to fly home for the Sheffield Shield.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While selectors felt his inclusion gave Australia additional batting depth ahead of the series, many in the cricketing world believed the selectors had handed Maddinson too difficult a task with his recall.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Just happy to have had (the opportunity). A week before, if you'd said, 'You're going to play Test cricket next week, where do you want to bat?' I probably would have chosen to open. It wasn't anything that was too daunting \u2026 just disappointed I couldn't make the most of it,\" Maddinson told the media, as quoted by cricket.com.au.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I probably felt more prepared than what I did the first time I played (Test cricket). I know I hadn't played first-class cricket for a while, but I felt like my record in the previous six years down at Victoria was something I felt really confident in,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Maddinson wouldn't rule out a return to the Test side in the future. \"A month ago, I thought maybe playing Shield cricket was impossible, so who knows?\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I probably felt more prepared than what I did the first time I played (Test cricket). I know I hadn't played first-class cricket for a while, but I felt like my record in the previous six years down at Victoria was something I felt really confident in,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Special Cricket Stories<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n