Home truth is Malan has to drop out

WITH Ben Stokes standing trial next week on a charge of affray, England will be forced to make one change for the second Test at Lord’s. But they should also make another by dropping Dawid Malan.

This series opener against India has been a wonderful advert for Test cricket, with a raucous Edgbaston creating an electric atmosphere on a thrilling third day.

Yet it has been a match to forget for Malan, who made just 28 runs and dropped three vital catches at second slip that could still cost England this Test.

The pair of chances he spurned on day two to reprieve Virat Kohli on 21 and then 51 were key considering India’s captain went on to score 149. Malan also dropped Murali Vijay on one at the start of India’s run chase yesterday.

The 30-year-old’s net return in this Test – runs scored minus the cost of his drops – currently stands at 105. Not the kind of century he was after.

Malan, though, is not really unlucky, he just looks mentally shot.

A good Ashes after a difficult debut summer appeared to have established his place.

He was one of the few England successes in Australia, scoring three half-centuries plus a fine 140 in the third Test in Perth. His series average was 42.55. Yet since then Malan has passed 50 once in 10 innings and averages 16.88. Unusually for an England batsman he struggles in England, averaging 20.23.

Malan struggles with the moving ball and looks strongest when playing off the back foot. No wonder he liked Perth, one of the bounciest pitches in the world where the ball rarely deviates.

He was poor in New Zealand, where the conditions are most similar to England, and has been again at the start of this home summer.

Perhaps the Middlesex batsman will keep his place at his home ground of Lord’s. But how would he react to the pressure of knowing that would be the final chance to save his skin? Would it not be better to bring in someone new who can relish the occasion?

Worcestershire starlet Joe Clarke, who spent time with England at Edgbaston this week, might be an option – as would Moeen Ali straight in at No 4 rather than as a direct replacement for all-rounder Stokes.

England could then bring back Chris Woakes, provided he is fit, as the extra seamer they will probably need.

However England’s team is made up at Lord’s, it would look much stronger without Malan, who appears a dead man walking as far as his Test career is concerned.