Many happy returns for Bolander
England’s Paarl ‘boytjie’ Malan thrilled to be back to where it all started for him
WHEN Dawid Malan walks around Boland Park, he is still stopped at almost every turn by people working at the stadium that still remember the golden-locked schoolboy who debuted here almost 12 years ago.
Malan, of course, grew up just a stone’s throw away from the picturesque winelands venue and was educated at the town’s prestigious Paarl Boys’ High School.
That was almost a lifetime ago, though, as Malan left shortly afterwards to pursue a career at Middlesex in the English County Championship, ultimately culminating in 15 Test caps and an Ashes century for the country of his birth.
Yesterday, though, Malan was back in the Boland Park nets – only this time, he won’t play for the local team but will instead play out of Newlands and turn out for neighbours and fierce rivals the Cape Town Blitz in this season’s inaugural T20 Mzansi Super League.
“It is really nice to get back to where it all started. It is fantastic to come here,” Malan told Independent Media in an exclusive interview.
“(Newlands) is one of my favourite stadiums in the world. I remember as a kid sitting there in the Members Stand watching Western Province. It is a fantastic ground, fantastic atmosphere, the home crowd is always fantastic as well.”
Malan, along with two-time West Indies World T20 winner Samuel Badree and Pakistan wildcard Asif Ali, are expected to add a great deal of explosiveness and excitement to a youthful Blitz squad.
Their influence will be even greater in the opening round when the Blitz face off against the Tshwane Spartans at Newlands without their Proteas, which includes captain Farhaan Berhardien, Dale Steyn, Quinton de Kock and Andile Phehlukwayo.
In contrast, the Spartans will come at the Blitz with none other than global superstar AB de Villiers in the tournament opener on
I am expecting a really good tournament. From a personal point of view, I hope to score as many runs as possible Dawid Malan Cape Town Blitz player
November 16.
“I am expecting a really good tournament. Hopefully the tournament comes off really well. From a personal point of view, I hope to score as many runs as possible and win as many games as possible for the Blitz,” Malan said about the MSL T20 before waxing lyrical about De Villiers.
“It is always good to have someone like him (De Villiers) playing in the tournament. It lifts the profile of the tournament. He is a fantastic player and a legend of the game.
“For us playing against him, we have a couple of young guys in our team and it will be a fantastic experience for them. Hopefully we can work out some plans and get the better of him on the night.”