Malan is on a mission after pain of final KO TEAR I GO AGAIN
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 batsman missed out on Sunday’s T20 title triumph when management decided they could not gamble on his fitness after a groin strain.
Malan described it 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 ex-captain Eoin Morgan having retired from the 50-over format this year, the 35-year-old is determined to make one of those spots his own.
“We all have tough times in our careers,” said Malan. “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. “All I can do is score runs. 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.”
When fit, 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 – should guarantee him an extended stay in the longform white-ball set-up. The timing of this ODI series was not welcomed by England, starting just four days after their T20 success. Despite only three players featuring from the final, the tourists looked jaded. Jos Buttler and David Willey did their best to help Malan and England to a respectable score.
But David Warner (inset) led the way with 86 as Australia strolled to victory with 19 balls and six wickets remaining.
The two sides meet in a do-or-die second match at
Sydney tomorrow.