IT was hard for former Test batsman Nic Maddinson to be too angry when he was dumped by NSW at the end of last summer because he was enjoying himself at a resort in Mexico.

And he’d already signed a three-year Big Bash contract with the Melbourne Stars to off-set any thoughts of “what next ?”.

Victoria was also interested in the national T20 team member and while a full state contract wasn’t available, cricket’s new world order meant Maddinson could play 50-over cricket for the Vics and rebuild his career from there.

Maddinson, 26, was on Wednesday included in Victoria’s 14-man squad for the JLT Cup, which begins in Townsville on Sunday, alongside three teenagers including 17-year-old batting prodigy Mackenzie Harvey and leg-spinner Tom O’Connell, who just turned 18.

Last year’s one-day player of the year for NSW, Maddinson has his sights on adding to his three Tests, all played in the summer of 2016 when he scored just 27 runs in four innings, knowing big scores in any form of the game are the key to higher honours.

“I don’t think I was ever at my best when I was given the opportunity (to play Test cricket),” Maddinson said.

“I think I have the skill to be back playing Test cricket again. It’s just a case of putting together a lot of runs. I have played for eight years at NSW, and I am 26, so hopefully heading in to best part of my career.

“There’s different ways of getting back in to the Test team, it’s about scoring runs regardless of what team or what format as we saw on Tuesday with the selection of Aaron Finch.”

Maddinson will also play club cricket for St Kilda, and attempt to push his way in to the Vics Sheffield Shield team. He said not having a state contract was no longer the end of the road for cricketers.

“There’s going to be players in years to come moving for opportunities in T20 cricket and the rest will flow off the back of that,” he said.

“I think Victoria was a pretty good option for me. I feel like the system and environment is well suited to me and my personality. I wasn’t coming down here just for the Stars, it was a decision based on trying to play four day cricket again.”

Peter Handscomb, who also missed the Test squad, will captain Victoria with Glenn Maxwell also out to get the hundreds Australian coach Justin Langer has demanded.

Victorian 2018 JLT One-Day Cup Squad: Peter Handscomb (c), Scott Boland, Jackson Coleman, Travis Dean, Sebastian Gotch, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Tom O’Connell, Matt Short, Will Sutherland, Chris Tremain, Cameron White