MALAN: RANKING JUST A NUMBER
DAWID MALAN is the world No. 1 batsman in T20 cricket but he reckons that still won’t be enough to secure his place in England’s first- choice side. Far from feeling an integral part of Eoin Morgan’s plans for the World Cup in 12 months time, Malan ( left) is sweating on his place.
And for good reason with World Cup winners Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy all settled at the top of the order and because he didn’t merit a central contract last month either.
Even so, Malan has proved his quality time and again with seven 50s and a ton from his first 16 matches, propelling him up the world rankings.
Malan said: “That ranking doesn’t guarantee runs, it doesn’t guarantee you a spot in the team. It’s something that, the day I retire, I will look back on with fond memories.
“But the higher your ranking in anything, the more you are looked to and the more pressure there is on you.
“I think the competition has always been strong. Since Eoin took over as captain after that 2015 World Cup, the players he’s selected and had in and around his team have all been fantastic.
“I can’t control selection. All I can do is put in the work in the nets and if I get the opportunity to play, keep scoring as many runs as I can to put pressure on the guys that have the spots.”
Malan’s numbers are impressive, with a strike rate of 147 to boot, but by playing in only 16 matches out of 29 since he made his debut, his struggle for recognition is real.
As an alumni of Paarl Boys High School, this tour to South Africa is a homecoming for Malan.
But as proud as he is of the past, his eyes are now squarely on future opportunities.
“I think everyone has to work to play for England,” he added. “I don’t think it’s ever just given on a plate.
“If you look at the limited opportunities I’ve had since I was in the first Twenty20 squad in 2016, you obviously look back and think you probably didn’t get as much of a run, but that’s understandable because of the quality of players England have had.
“The opportunities you get are like gold and you have to capitalise on them every time to be able to stay in the squad.”