SPLINTER MALAN

Dawid admits there were tears after his T20 agony but he vows to hit back in style

GIDEON BROOKS DAWID MALAN wants to put his World Cup heartache behind him by making himself undroppable for England’s 50-overs title defence in India next year.

The England batsman missed out on Sunday’s T20 title win when management decided they could not gamble on his fitness after a groin strain.

Malan described missing out as “one of the toughest days of my cricketing career” and admitted to shedding a tear on the eve of the match.

But after smashing a superb 134 in Adelaide, albeit in a losing cause, in the ODI series opener against Australia yesterday, Malan says India next year could offer some consolation.

And with Ben Stokes and former captain Eoin Morgan having retired from the 50-overs format this year, Malan is determined to make one of those spots his own.

“We all have tough times in our careers,” Malan said. “Not being able to play the final was probably one of the toughest days I’ve ever had as a cricketer.

“That’s what sport’s like – it’s cruel sometimes. Understandably the decision was taken not to risk Mark Wood and me, even though we’d done what was needed.

“I had a few tears that night. You never know how many World Cup finals you’re going to be a part of. To be fit now and perform like I did here, it’s extremely satisfying after the disappointment of last week – disappointment but also the massive excitement and elation of winning that

World Cup.

“There’s so much cricket coming up and

I’ve got so much to play for still in my career. I want to push myself into this squad and want to be at the next T20 World Cup as well.

“All I can do is score runs,” he added. “This 50-over team that England have has been so successful for so many years and the guys in their positions have been so successful.

“Anyone waiting in the wings needs to try to take their opportunities when they can.”

Malan has been in good form this winter, producing key innings to help win the T20 series in Pakistan and again in the T20 series against Australia before the World Cup.

This was just his 10th ODI but his century, which helped England recover from 66-4 and 118-5 as they posted 287-9.

Jos Buttler and David Willey did their best to help Malan and England to a respectable score but it was one Australia reached with 19 balls and six wickets remaining. The two face off in a door-die second match in Sydney tomorrow.