Goa, Oct. 26 -- Australia has officially brought an end to its top-order experiment, sending left-handed batter Nic Maddinson home ahead of the third and final Test against South Africa in Cape Town. Maddinson, who earned a surprise recall to the Test squad after a decade-long absence, failed to lock down his spot during a challenging series on South African soil.

Over the course of two Tests, Maddinson managed just four innings, highlighted only by a second-innings 48 in Durban that helped setup an Australian victory. However, two ducks-a 33-ball scoreless outing in Durban and a three-ball duck in Gqeberha-forced the national selection panel to rethink their opening combination for the series decider at Newlands. Maddinson's temporary p...