Maddinson and Shaw Tapped to Lead New South Wales in New Era Under Haddin

After missing the previous season to undergo treatment for testicular cancer, 34-year-old Nic Maddinson has returned to full health and is set to begin his second stint as New South Wales captain, having previously led the side in the 2015-16 season. During his recovery, he managed five appearances for the Sydney Thunder and a single 2nd XI match.

“Captaining the NSW Blues is a huge privilege, and I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to lead the Sheffield Shield team this season,” Maddinson said. “Being entrusted with the New South Wales captaincy is something I don’t take for granted, and I look forward to working alongside the playing group and coaching staff throughout the summer.”

Meanwhile, the One-Day Cup captaincy has been entrusted to Shaw. Despite having only 14 List A matches to his name, the wicketkeeper—known for his exceptional fielding—has been handed the leadership role for the defending champions. This appointment aligns with new head coach Brad Haddin’s strategy to cultivate emerging leaders within the squad.

“I’m so excited to be leading the Blues’ one-day team this season, and I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity,” Shaw said. “We have a seriously talented playing group at the Blues, and I’m confident we have the makings of a team that can push for titles.”

Previous captain Edwards has chosen to step down from the role to prioritize his personal performance and workload management. He initially took over the One-Day Cup captaincy in 2024 and assumed the Sheffield Shield leadership the following season when Moises Henriques was unavailable.

Last season, Edwards led the side in five Sheffield Shield matches, while Nathan Lyon and Steven Smith each captained one game before Kurtis Patterson took over for the remainder of the campaign. Patterson also skippered the team to a One-Day Cup final victory against Tasmania. New South Wales has not secured a Sheffield Shield title since the COVID-19-interrupted 2019-20 season.

Edwards will miss the early part of the domestic season as he joins the Australia A squad for four-day fixtures in India later this month. Shaw is also participating in the 50-over segment of the tour, making him likely to miss the one-day clash against Tasmania on October 13.

“As a coach, you want your players to be exposed to Australian squads as much as possible,” Haddin told ESPNcricinfo. “That is a really pleasing aspect of the job, as they go away, learn from elite environments, and return as better players.”

These leadership adjustments are part of a broader overhaul for New South Wales this season under Haddin, who succeeded Greg Shipperd. He has assembled a new coaching staff, recently bringing in Peter Siddle and Johan Botha as assistants.

“We have a highly motivated group eager to make an impact at New South Wales,” Haddin stated. “They are driven to win titles and are deeply passionate about representing the state. While there is significant rebuilding ahead and new standards to establish, the players have been exceptionally responsive and hungry to deliver results.”

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