How Pakistan's biggest names stacked up on their return to first-class cricket 📊 Read Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi's piece: srkl.in/6017BCddhH

Nic Maddinson found a lump in his body earlier last year. Scans revealed testicular cancer, and he had surgery immediately to remove it. But further tests seven weeks later showed the cancer had spread to parts of his abdominal lymph nodes and lung. Maddinson's wife, Bianca, was also pregnant with their second child when he began chemotherapy and had to quit her job as a dentist to look after their toddler son while Maddinson underwent treatment. He would be at the hospital from about 11am to 4pm. Then a sleep. Then he would force himself to have dinner. Then he would sleep until about 1am, but sometimes he would stay awake until 6am. He completed his chemotherapy on July 14. He had to wait another two months before he was cleared to resume full training. After the birth of his second son, Wilder, he is grateful to be healthy again and has urged others to get checked if they notice anything abnormal. Today, Nic Maddinson plays Test cricket again. He returns to first-class cricket after 579 days, having last played in March 2025. It is the longest period an Australian has gone without playing first-class cricket before a men's Test match. Never give up.