Malan takes heart from Voges
Englishman feels a batsman’s best years are between 28 and 32
England match-winner Dawid Malan said Australia’s Adam Voges gave him the hope of making an international debut he thought would never come.
Malan marked his first senior England appearance with a superb 78 off just 44 balls in a 19run victory over South Africa in Cardiff on Sunday that sealed a 2-1 Twenty20 series win.
It was the highest score made by an England Twenty20 debutant and helped justify regular captain Eoin Morgan’s decision to drop himself in favour of his fellow Middlesex left-hander.
But it was a conversation with another Middlesex batsman in Voges, who didn’t makes his Test debut until he was 35, which helped persuade Malan, who turns 30 in September, that he would get a chance to play international cricket.
“I didn’t think this day would come,” Malan said after a Man-of-the-Match display at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens.
“I actually had a chat about two-and-a-half months ago with Adam after the North vs South (domestic) games which I contributed really well to.
“Then they (England) rested a few players for the Ireland matches. I spoke to Adam and said ‘Look, I don’t know what else I can do. I can only score so many runs in the games that I’m given’.
“He gave me a few tips as he was in the same position with regards to Test cricket in Australia.
“He was a late bloomer so he told me what he did. Fortunately I was given another chance and I took it,” added Malan, who on Sunday struck 12 fours and two sixes — the first off just his second ball in senior international cricket.
“You probably have your best years from 28 to 32 as a batsman,” explained Malan. “You start knowing your game, what your strengths and weaknesses are.”