DAWID: HOW TO TACKLE GOLIATH

Malan says England have to be aggressive to avoid another whitewash

DAWID MALAN reckons England must fight fire with fire to avoid another Ashes whitewash.

As the biggest success story of this tour, he has learned more than most about how to thrive against Australia’s pace attack.

Malan was able to come back at them with something other than a duck and a weave on the quickest and bounciest pitch of the lot at the WACA.

And it is that experience of scoring his maiden Test hundred and following up with a 50 that leaves him in no doubt how the visitors should go about things after Christmas.

“I believe we need to be aggressive with these guys as they are with us,” said Malan. “If you ever take your foot off the gas with these blokes, they seem to really, really dominate.

“It showed at Adelaide when we were aggressive to them under lights in their second innings. We attacked them and they fell away just as we did at certain times when they attacked us. Whether you’re batting, bowling or fielding you have to be aggressive.

“It doesn’t mean you have to chirp or get in people’s faces, but when you bat you have to look to score runs, when you bowl, look to take wickets, be positive in everything and don’t let them get into the game. “Hopefully we can keep that attitude for five days, not just two-and-a-half sessions or two-and-a-half days.”

That has been the mantra from coach Trevor Bayliss (left) ever since he took the job in 2015 and when they play at home the swagger and confidence is there.

On tour in India last winter and now Australia, this squad have been uncertain. But Malan practises what he preaches.

He added: “I think I’ve shown I can play at this level, especially out here in Australia, which is a tough place to tour.”