Pouring with emotion

Malan ton gives England more than a fighting chance

DAWID MALAN has admitted he almost burst into tears after scoring his maiden Test hundred in front of his parents in Perth.

England’s number five batsman finished the opening day of the third Ashes Test unbeaten on 110 following an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 174 with Jonny Bairstow that helped the tourists recover from 131-4 to 305-4 by the close.

England had come into this match 2-0 down in the series after defeats by Australia in Brisbane and Adelaide. But Malan’s personal milestone, and that stand with Bairstow, revived his side’s Ashes chances after opener Alastair Cook, number three James Vince and captain Joe Root were all out cheaply. And the fact it came in front of his parents, dad Dawid Snr and mum Janet – who had flown in from South Africa – made it even more special.

“It was so emotional,” said Malan.“I didn’t know what to do. I almost started crying when it happened. I was trying to keep the tears in. The amount of sacrifices my old man and mother have made along the way, it’s nice to repay them.”

Malan, who was dropped on 92 at third slip by Cameron Bancroft off the bowling of Mitchell Starc, added: “You lie in bed at night imagining yourself doing this. But

> I got there and didn’t know what to do.You can’t jump the gun and think how you will react. At the time, it all disappears and becomes a blur.

“I didn’t think I’d get one. This time last year I didn’t think I’d play for England, so to get a hundred in the Ashes at the WACA – it’s not every day you score a hundred for your country.”

Malan came into this series with an average of 23.62 after a disappointing return from his first five Tests last summer.

The 30-year-old was also derided by the Australian media as one of England’s ‘no-name’ players when the squad arrived in the country in late October.

Now, though, the locals certainly know who he is. “Whether you’re talked about as a no name or they know your name, it’s always nice to score a hundred for your country to put the doubts to bed,” he said.

“From an inside the tent point of view, I’ve never felt under pressure, I’ve had the backing of the coaches and the captain.

“It’s just every time you open the newspaper you read how poor you are and how bad you are. So, it is nice to tick a box and prove to yourself you can play at this level and you can score hundreds.”

Middlesex batsman Malan, above, has enjoyed a good Ashes tour, with his halfcentury in the first Test at the Gabba following scores of 56, 63 and 109 in England’s three warm-up matches.

It is a far cry from his debut Test series against South Africa last summer, which he finished with an average of 8.75 from his first two matches against a high-quality attack.

“That seems like a long time ago,” said Malan.

“I never thought that I’d score a run in Test cricket to be honest. It was quite tough facing that, and luckily I have found a way and adjusted my game to work at Test cricket.

“I’ve faced a lot of balls in this series but haven’t scored many runs.

“It was my day out there and a few things went my way, and I managed to capitalise on that.”