Maddinson and Shaw Lead New South Wales’ New Era 2026

Key Points

• The captains of New South Wales have been named by Maddinson and Shaw for the domestic 2026-27 season.
• Nic Maddinson will captain the NSW Blues in the Sheffield Shield.
• Lachlan Shaw will be the captain of the side in the One-Day Cup competitions.
• Jack Edwards will hand over his captaincy responsibilities in order to concentrate on his game and workload management.
• Nic Maddinson gets the Sheffield Shield captaincy after having been the same previously in the 2015-16 season.
• The 34-year-old did not play in the previous season as he was dealing with testicular cancer but has returned to play for Sydney Thunder and in the Second XI contest.
• Lachlan Shaw has only played 14 List A games but Coach Brad Haddin has selected him as part of his strategy for developing leaders.
• The team enters the tournament as defending One-Day Cup champions.
• Both Jack Edwards and Lachlan Shaw are expected to miss the first domestic matches as they will be playing with Australia A in India.
• The selection of the new captains forms part of a wider restructuring exercise under new head coach Brad Haddin.

Wales (Wales Times) September 16, 2026 – Maddinson will lead the New South Wales Blues in the Sheffield Shield, while Lachlan Shaw will captain the side in the One-Day Cup.

The appointments represent a significant change in leadership for New South Wales after Jack Edwards decided not to continue as captain. Edwards has stepped away from the role to focus on his own performance and workload management, according to the report published by ESPNcricinfo.

Maddinson’s appointment gives New South Wales an experienced Sheffield Shield captain with previous knowledge of the demands of leading the state side. Shaw’s selection for the One-Day Cup, meanwhile, reflects Haddin’s intention to give emerging players greater responsibility within a changing squad.

New South Wales are also beginning a new coaching era. Haddin has replaced Greg Shipperd as head coach and has assembled a new-look support team that includes former Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle and former South Africa international Johan Botha.

Why has Nic Maddinson been appointed Sheffield Shield captain?

Nic Maddinson has been appointed Sheffield Shield captain after returning to full health following treatment for testicular cancer.

The 34-year-old did not play for New South Wales last season while undergoing treatment earlier in the year. He did, however, return to competitive cricket with Sydney Thunder, making five appearances, and also featured in a second XI match.

Maddinson previously captained New South Wales during the 2015-16 season. His return to the leadership role provides the state with an experienced figure as it attempts to improve its Sheffield Shield campaign.

In comments reported by ESPNcricinfo, Maddinson said captaining the New South Wales Blues was a “huge privilege” and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Sheffield Shield team.

“Being entrusted with the New South Wales captaincy is something I don’t take for granted,” Maddinson said, according to the report. He added that he was looking forward to working with the playing group and coaching staff throughout the summer.

His appointment also carries importance beyond his previous leadership experience. Maddinson’s return follows a difficult period away from the state side, and his selection indicates that he has recovered sufficiently to take on the demands of a full domestic season.

The decision gives New South Wales a captain who understands the state system, has already held the role and has experience of high-level domestic cricket. It also allows the team to begin the Shield campaign with a clearly defined leader after several players shared captaincy responsibilities last season.

Why has Lachlan Shaw been chosen for the One-Day Cup?

Lachlan Shaw has been appointed captain of New South Wales in the One-Day Cup despite having only 14 List A matches to his name.

The decision is part of Haddin’s wider effort to develop emerging leaders within the state squad. Shaw is primarily a wicketkeeper and is regarded as an outstanding fielder, according to the ESPNcricinfo report.

Shaw will lead a New South Wales team that is defending its One-Day Cup title. The state won last season’s final against Tasmania, with Kurtis Patterson serving as captain for that match.

In a statement reported by ESPNcricinfo, Shaw said he was excited to lead the Blues’ one-day team and grateful for the opportunity. He described the squad as highly talented and said he believed it had the potential to challenge for further titles.

The captaincy is an important responsibility for Shaw because the One-Day Cup side will be expected to defend its championship. His limited List A experience means the role will also test his tactical development, communication skills and ability to manage senior players.

Shaw’s appointment suggests that New South Wales are looking beyond established names when choosing their leaders. Rather than selecting a player solely on the basis of previous captaincy experience, Haddin has backed a younger player as part of a longer-term development plan.

Why did Jack Edwards step down as captain?

Jack Edwards has decided not to continue as captain so that he can concentrate on his individual performance and workload management.

Edwards was appointed One-Day Cup captain in 2024 before taking charge of the Sheffield Shield side the following season when Moises Henriques was unavailable. His leadership period included responsibilities in both domestic formats.

Last season, Edwards captained New South Wales in five Sheffield Shield matches. Nathan Lyon and Steven Smith each led the side once, while Kurtis Patterson took over during the latter part of the campaign.

Patterson also captained New South Wales in the One-Day Cup final against Tasmania, when the team secured the title.

Edwards’ decision does not represent a departure from the New South Wales squad. Instead, it allows him to focus on his playing responsibilities while the team moves to a new leadership structure under Haddin.

The change is also linked to Edwards’ Australia A selection. He is part of the squad travelling to India for four-day matches later in September, meaning he will miss the opening stages of the domestic season.

How will Australia A commitments affect the new captains?

Both Edwards and Shaw are expected to miss early domestic matches because of their involvement with Australia A.

Edwards has been selected for the four-day portion of Australia A’s tour of India. Shaw is included in the 50-over section of the trip and is therefore likely to miss New South Wales’ One-Day Cup match against Tasmania on October 13.

Shaw’s possible absence would create an immediate challenge for New South Wales because he has been appointed specifically to lead the one-day side. The state may need to rely on another player to take temporary charge if Shaw is unavailable for the fixture.

The situation also highlights the depth of the New South Wales squad. The state has appointed new captains while some of its players are being considered for national duties, creating opportunities for other members of the team to take on additional responsibility.

Haddin welcomed the exposure of his players to Australia’s elite environments. As reported by ESPNcricinfo, he said coaches wanted players to be exposed to Australian squads as much as possible because they could learn from those environments and return as better cricketers.

The Australia A assignments could therefore benefit New South Wales in the longer term, even if they create short-term selection and leadership issues. Players involved in the tour will gain experience against international-quality opposition and work within national-team structures.

What is the recent captaincy history of New South Wales?

New South Wales used several captains across the previous domestic season.

Edwards led the side in five Sheffield Shield matches. Nathan Lyon and Steven Smith each captained the team once, while Patterson took over later in the campaign.

Patterson also led the side in the One-Day Cup final against Tasmania. His leadership helped New South Wales secure the limited-overs title, which means Shaw inherits a team with a recent one-day trophy to defend.

The state’s Shield record has been less successful. New South Wales have not won the Sheffield Shield since the Covid-interrupted 2019-20 season.

That drought adds importance to Maddinson’s appointment. The new captain will be expected to bring stability to the red-ball side while working with Haddin and a revised coaching team.

The change in leadership also gives New South Wales an opportunity to establish a more consistent structure. Instead of moving between several stand-in captains, the state now has separate appointed leaders for the two formats.

How does Brad Haddin’s appointment affect New South Wales?

Brad Haddin’s appointment as head coach marks the beginning of a new phase for New South Wales.

Haddin replaced Greg Shipperd and has introduced a new-look coaching group. Peter Siddle and Johan Botha are among the assistant coaches supporting the programme.

The captaincy decisions appear to align with Haddin’s broader approach. Maddinson offers experience for the Sheffield Shield, while Shaw represents an investment in emerging leadership for the One-Day Cup.

Haddin’s comments about Australia A selection also indicate that he values players gaining experience beyond the state environment. He said exposure to elite squads could help players learn and return to New South Wales better equipped.

The coaching changes and captaincy appointments therefore form part of the same transition. New South Wales are not simply replacing one captain; they are reshaping their leadership and support structures at the start of Haddin’s first season in charge.

What is the background to the New South Wales leadership changes?

New South Wales are entering the 2026-27 domestic season after a mixed period in which the team won the One-Day Cup but continued to wait for another Sheffield Shield title.

The state’s most recent Sheffield Shield success came in the Covid-interrupted 2019-20 season. Since then, the team has not regained the competition’s title.

The previous season involved several changes in leadership. Edwards captained five Shield matches, while Lyon, Smith and Patterson also led the side at different points. Patterson subsequently captained the One-Day Cup final victory over Tasmania.

Maddinson’s return is notable because he missed the previous season while receiving treatment for testicular cancer. His five appearances for Sydney Thunder and a second XI match marked his return to cricket before he was selected to lead New South Wales again.

Shaw’s promotion reflects the state’s attempt to develop younger leaders. Although he has limited List A experience, his wicketkeeping background and reputation as a strong fielder have contributed to his selection.

The arrival of Haddin, supported by Siddle and Botha, adds another layer to the transition. New South Wales are combining experienced players, emerging leaders and a revised coaching structure as they prepare for the new campaign.

How could the captaincy changes affect New South Wales supporters?

The changes could give New South Wales supporters a clearer leadership structure across the two domestic formats. Maddinson’s experience may provide stability in the Sheffield Shield, while Shaw’s appointment offers supporters a chance to follow the development of a newer leader in the One-Day Cup.

The immediate impact may be complicated by Australia A commitments. Shaw could miss the October 13 One-Day Cup match against Tasmania, and Edwards will be unavailable for the early stages of the season because of the four-day matches in India.

Supporters may therefore see temporary changes before the new structure becomes settled. The team’s ability to manage those absences will be important, particularly because New South Wales are defending the One-Day Cup title.

For the longer term, Maddinson’s leadership could help the state address its extended Sheffield Shield drought. Shaw’s captaincy could also support the development of a stronger succession plan, provided he receives consistent support from Haddin, the coaching staff and senior players.