The pitchforks were out, but Bailey and Test selectors can now breathe easy

October 13, 2026 — 3:12pm

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The pitchforks were out for Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey when Nic Maddinson trudged off for an ugly 33-ball duck on day one of the first Test against South Africa in Durban.

After being carved up by Matthew Hayden for “promoting the greatest pile of mediocrity that we’ve seen in a generation of cricket” by selecting Maddinson – who is without a first-class match to his name in 579 days – you suspect Bailey may have been feeling a little uneasy sitting in the Australian dugout.

With Australia 6-124 after winning the toss and batting, Bailey would have been edgy.

Three days later, Maddinson (0 and 48) has scored more than twice as many runs as his opening partner and established star Travis Head (9 and 11).

No.5 Matt Renshaw, initially brought back into Australia’s team to open before being shuffled down the order, has amassed 272 runs (190 and 82), the fourth-highest aggregate by an Australian........

© The Age