If they were in good condition and you stored them with no charge in them, they may have survived. We haven't had NiCads in r/c for quite awhile now.

If you are going to get back into it and buy a new charger and batteries consider going LiPo... 1/3 more run time per Mah, easy to charge.. no discharging.. run them over and over again all day long.. Just be careful not to run them all the way down, that will destroy them. New ESC for brushless motors have a LiPo cut off so you don't damage them.

The truck you have is still competitive and most of the parts on the newest version the XXX-T CR are compatible. Brushless motors and ESCs have come a long way in the past few years and also offer some nice alternatives. You can get a Novak Havoc with a motor for around $150. The same price as an older top of the line brushed speed control without a motor! Brushless motors are zero maintenance and run longer than brushed equivalents.

Welcome back and have fun!

Jerome