Maddinson has 'different attitude' since beating cancer

Nic Maddinson is unfazed if he never plays for Australia again, content to be enjoying his cricket as much as ever after overcoming a harrowing battle with cancer.

Maddinson's outlook on the game he loves has changed markedly since being diagnosed with testicular cancer and undergoing nine weeks of chemotherapy over the most recent off-season.

Cricket was the furthest thing from his mind during his treatment, when even getting of bed and interacting with family was a struggle.

"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."

Maddinson, who began the 2024-25 season hoping for a Test recall, started this summer taking the final steps on his journey back from the devastating illness.

A return to professional cricket has come with the BBL's Sydney Thunder; in his fourth game back, Maddinson hit the winning run in Monday's upset win over the Melbourne Renegades. Prior to that, he'd been getting his eye in with grade cricket side Eastern Suburbs.

"It's probably as much fun as I've had playing cricket for a long time," Maddinson said. "Six months ago, just to be out on the field and playing is something I wasn't sure could happen this quickly."

Maddinson is still fighting for a first-class recall at New South Wales, but played a second XI clash prior to joining Thunder for the loss to Hobart Hurricanes earlier this month.

Between a tough 2024-25 summer, his health battle and his age, the 34-year-old knows he may have missed his chance to add to his three Test caps. That doesn't bother Maddinson, who is learning to put less pressure on himself.

"It's probably just a different attitude to it all. I just want to play," he said. "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 keeping looking to play."

Adam Zampa was one of many friends to offer Maddinson support last year, having first heard of his childhood mate's illness while playing in the IPL.

"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.

One of the first things Maddinson and his wife did when he finished chemotherapy was fly out of Sydney to spend time with the Zampa family.

Even as his Renegades fell to Maddinson's Thunder on Monday, Zampa couldn't help but smile at the close of play as he considered his mate's comeback story.

"Seeing him fit and healthy and playing cricket again ... I'm really happy for him," Zampa said.