Nic Maddinson will make his return to cricket this summer via the Big Bash League, signing with the Sydney Thunder.
It comes after the batsman spent the last year battling and overcoming a private battle with testicular cancer, as he revealed to the Sydney Morning Herald in October.
Maddinson underwent bouts of chemotherapy and has spent much of 2025 recovering from the ordeal.
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He has now signed with the Thunder for the upcoming BBL season, saying he is excited to return to the game.
“I’m really happy to be staying with Thunder,” Maddinson said in a press release.
“There’s been a few setbacks for myself lately, but I’ve had amazing support from my friends, family and the club. Now I’m just keen to lock in, get the season started and hopefully help the boys go one better than last year.”
Maddinson signed with the Sydney-based Big Bash side last summer, but ultimately didn’t play a game due to his diagnosis.
The 33-year-old has been a part of the BBL since the inaugural season, where he was a part of the Sydney Sixers’ title win.
He has made more than 2000 runs across 111 Big Bash appearances.
Thunder general manager Trent Copeland is happy to have Maddinson back in the locker room.
“We are pleased to have Maddo re-sign with us at Sydney Thunder,” Copeland said.
“I know how eager he was to play in front of the Thunder Nation before his injury, and I know that eagerness has doubled since then.
“We’re backing Maddo to make a real impact this season, both at the crease and through his leadership around the team.”
Speaking to the SMH in October, Maddinson told the story of his health battle and expressed his gratitude for all the help he had getting back on his feet.
“I feel very lucky I live in a country where we have good medical care,” he says.
“When I found out I needed chemo, it hit me hard because I almost didn’t go. I thought it would go away. 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.
“I just think it’s so important if you have anything you’re worried about, get it checked out.
“It feels silly to not tell my story. If one person reads it and gets checked, I’ll be happy. I grew up in the country and a lot of people fob it off. It’s a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude. Get the stuff checked out, it can make all the difference.”
The Thunder play the first match of their BBL campaign on December 16 against the Hobart Hurricanes.
