Veteran batsman Nic Maddinson has been called into Australia’s Test squad for their blockbuster tour of South Africa in an all-time selection stunner.

The 34-year-old’s last Sheffield Shield game came in March 2025, weeks before he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

But after beating the disease and returning to the field last summer, he is now headed to Potchefstroom as cover for Cam Green after scans confirmed the WA all-rounder suffered an abdominal strain in a One-Day International on Wednesday.

Victorian Sam Harper has also earned his first call-up into a Test squad and will act as wicketkeeping cover for Alex Carey while WA’s Josh Inglis remains in Perth to continue his recovery from a broken finger.

“Sam gives us wicketkeeping cover as Josh continues his recovery while Nic provides flexibility throughout the batting order,” Australia’s chief selector George Bailey said.

Long forecast as a player of significant potential in his younger years, Maddinson played three Test matches for Australia in late 2016 as selectors tried to bring about a generational shift following a disastrous loss to the Proteas in Hobart.

He was axed after managing only 27 runs across four innings, beginning a period of decline which ended with him losing his State contract with the Blues less than 18 months later.

After reviving his career and establishing himself as one of the shield’s premier run-scorers with Victoria, he returned to his home State in 2024.

In October of last year, he revealed he had spent recent months battling testicular cancer.

He had a tumour removed surgically before undergoing a treatment of chemotherapy after test results revealed the disease had spread to other parts of his body, but is now in full remission.

“Once I found out I had to have chemo, that was pretty hard to deal with,” Maddinson told Nine newspapers.

“It had spread to parts of my abdominal lymph nodes and lung. That was a bit where it was pretty daunting.

“To know that I caught it probably as early as I could have, and it still spread into other parts of my body, that was scary.”

Appointed as NSW’s One-Day Cup captain ahead of this season, Maddinson blazed 126 in their clash with Victoria last Friday in a fine knock which came in a game where the next highest individual score was 46.

Australia begin their three-Test series against South Africa in Durban on October 9.