Malan enjoys his maiden century...and pace barrage

Ashes: Proud parents present to see son give England hope

Dawid Malan enjoyed every minute of the Australia pace barrage he had to withstand on his way to a maiden hundred which has breathed new belief into England’s Ashes campaign.

Malan’s parents travelled from South Africa to watch him at the WACA and he was hugged by his mum Janet as he left the pitch unbeaten on 110 out of 305 for four on an uncompromising first day of the third Test.

The 30-year-old joined Mark Stoneman at the crease with Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc cranking the pace well above 90mph on a bouncy pitch.

He had already seen Stoneman hit on the helmet by Starc, then found out first hand how tough it was as he laid the platform for an unbroken stand of 174 with Jonny Bairstow (75no).

Malan did not flinch for a moment, and said: “It was good fun actually. I really enjoyed it – I enjoyed the pace these guys come with and the short ball.”

By surviving and then prospering, he has convinced himself he is up to Test cricket and demonstrated England may yet be able to battle back from 2-0 down with three to play.

“With anything you do, it’s the selfbelief you have – you need to prove to yourself you do belong.

“It doesn’t mean you’re going to score runs. I might never get a run again in Test cricket, but you still have that belief – which is what you need to perform at the highest level.”

Re calling the moment he reached three figures, he said: “It was so emotional. I didn’t really know what to do.

“I almost started crying. To do it in front of them, the amount of sacrifices my old man and mother have made to get me here, is great. To repay them for all the time they’ve given me.”

Picture: Getty. Dawid Malan celebrates his century with Jonny Bairstow.