Top T20 star Malan faces fight to earn ODI place

Dawid Malan has just been crowned the world’s No 1 Twenty 20 bats man, but England’s head coach Chris Silver wood has warned that finding a route into the all-conquering ODI side is another matter entirely.

Malan’s displays during England’ s 2-1 series win over Australia in the past week – 129 runs in three innings against a formidable attack – were enough to lift him four places in the T 20 rankings, leap frogging the likes of Pakistan’s Ba bar Az am and Aaron Finch of Australia on the way to the summit.

That is quite an achievement for a player who has picked up just 16 caps at the age of 33, was not guaranteed his place at the star t of the summer and was dropped after making an unbeaten century against New Zealand last winter. M alan’ s remark abl est at istics – averaging 48.71 and striking at 146.66 p er hundred balls – dic - tates that he is now inked in for an extended chance in the sprint format but he must keep working to earn his stripes in a World Cupwinning 50-over side that has been peerless for the past four years.

Malan, above, has been drafted in as are serve player for the forthcoming one-day series against Australia, replacing Joe Denly, who heads back to Kent, but will beat Emirates Old Trafford as a standby option only after Jason Roy’s recovery from a side strain allowed him to be added to a 14-man squad and captain Eoin Morgan was passed fit following a dislocated finger.

“Obviously Dawid’s form in Twenty20s as it stands is phenomenal and it seems to keep getting better the more he bats. His record is brilliant at the moment,” said Silverwood.

“He is in great form, but the 50- over format is a tough team to get into.

“If the opportunity comes around I’m sure he’ll grab it with both hands, but it may be a case of waiting for that opportunity because it is such a tough team to get into.”