Introduction of Malan has come better late than never for England

DAWID Malan’s Ashes form suggests that he should have been handed an England chance far sooner – but the man who handed him his chance in English cricket believes his best days are still ahead of him as he approaches his peak.

Malan is second only to Steve Smith in the run-scoring stakes in an Ashes series that has already been decided.

But after waiting until the age of 29 for England recognition, Malan will be desperate to leave an indelible mark Down Under after registering his first Test century in Perth.

That innings, coupled with a battling second innings half century, demonstrated Malan’s new found worth to this England side, as did his back-to-the-wall 29 in the second innings under the Adelaide floodlights.

Malan now boasts four 50s and a hundred in his first eight Tests and will doubtless be hungry for more in the final two matches of the series in Melbourne and Sydney.

And Clive Radley, the former head of the MCC Young Cricketers, believes it’s exactly what he deserves after being handed his first opportunity for his side entirely by accident back in 2006.

“The chairman of Teddington had got in touch to tell me that they had quite a decent cricketer and would I take a look at him,” says Radley.

“We had 17 players on the (Young Cricketers) staff at the time so I said it would be a bit of a struggle.

“We had a match at Hinckley, though, and one of our guys had a bug just before the game so I gave him a call.

“He looked the business. They had a couple of quick bowlers and a left-armer from Pakistan.

“I put him in at number three and he clipped one off his hips for four first ball. I was straight on the phone to Embers (John Emburey) and told him to get him signed up at Middlesex.”

Neither Malan nor Middlesex can have any complaints at the way things have gone since, although it has taken the Roehampton-born left-hander longer than he would have liked to break into this England side.

The straight-talking Radley knows a thing or two about that, having had to wait until the age of 33 for his own England debut in New Zealand back in March 1978.

And he has no doubt that Malan can make up for lost time.

“The first thing I thought when he played for us was that he looked a bit like Graeme Pollock,” says Radley, who averaged over 48 in eight Tests for his country.

“He had the ability to play shots but you just never know how these things are going to work out.

“He has always looked the part in one-day cricket but you have to give him credit for working hour after hour in the indoor school at Lord’s

“You do get the feeling when you come into the England side at this age that you’re not going to get another chance and that you have to make the most of it.

“You have to focus that little bit more because you get the feeling it’s now or never.”

Malan’s time is now but England will hope there’s plenty more to come.