MALAN IN FULL CRY
Ton-up Dawid tears into Aussies but feat almost has him in tears
DAWID MALAN was so emotional after hitting England’s first century of this troubled Ashes tour that he nearly started crying.
The batsman’s courageous innings, defying a ferocious display of short-pitched bowling from Australia’s trio of 90mph men, dragged England back into the series on day one of the third Ashes Test at 305-4.
But the 30-year-old batsman said the moment when he raised his bat in front of his parents Dawid snr and Janet was one of the most charged of his career. “It was so emotional, I didn’t know what to do – I nearly started crying to be honest,” he said. “It happened and to do it in front of them – the amount of sacrifices my old man and mother have made along the way to get me here – it was nice to repay them for all the time they have given me.”
His parents had made the journey from South Africa to be here and Malan even struggled afterwards to recall how he had celebrated reaching
his hundred on a first day where he finished on 110 not out. He said: “You always think about making a hundred when you’re lying on your bed but it all disappeared in a bit of a blur.” But his WACA heroics alongside Jonny Bairstow – the pair hauling England from trouble at 131-4 with a vital 174-run partnership for the fifth wicket – forced Australia on to the back foot.
It also ensured Malan will enter his next innings with greater confidence. “You need to prove to yourself that you belong. When you get the first hundred you then are able to trust your game into the next game,” he said.
“It doesn’t mean you are going to be successful – you might never get another run in Test cricket. But you have that belief.”
Australia’s trio of quicks – Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins – appeared to finish the day nursing a few aches and pains after a collective 60 overs in 30-degree heat.
But Malan said that their speeds and aggression were impressive throughout day one.
“Most innings I have faced this trip I have been peppered by these guys,” said Malan. “They are all quality seamers and they bowl good pace. It is tough to work out a way to play it, whether taking it on or duck it.
“The wicket early on felt quite steep. But I’ve really enjoyed all the pace these guys have come with. In county cricket you’re more worried about your front pad getting blown off or nicked off with the 70 or 80 mph ‘dibbly dobblys’.
“I have really enjoyed the challenge of facing these guys.”
Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who took three catches, warned England their advantage was a fragile one. He said: “The wicket’s really good, so we can take some confidence out of that, but both Malan and Bairstow played really well.
“If we can get two early wickets tomorrow we’ve shown what we can do to their bowlers, so we can turn this game really quickly.”