Malan’s tears at missing T20 final
DAWID Malan shed a few tears after being informed England were unwilling to risk him for the T20 World Cup final, which he branded “one of the toughest days” of his career.
Malan is a mainstay in England’s T20 line-up and is their highestranked batter in the format but he injured his left groin while fielding in the side’s last Super 12s group match against Sri Lanka.
He missed the 10-wicket semifinal thrashing of India but passed all fitness tests the day before the marquee match against Pakistan, only for England to err on the side of caution and select Phil Salt.
Malan accepts the reasoning behind the decision made by Jos Buttler and head coach Matthew Mott.
The 35-year-old and Mark Wood, also sidelined by injury, were able to console each other ahead of a match England won to become the first men’s side to hold both T20 and ODI World Cups simultaneously.
Malan said: “We all have tough times in our careers. Not being able to play the final was probably one of the toughest days I have ever had as a cricketer. That is what sport is like – it is cruel sometimes.
“Understandably the decision was taken not to risk Woody and me, even though we had done what was needed.
“I had a few tears that night, you never know how many World Cup finals you are going to be a part of.
“If you are just not fit and not able to do what is required it is probably easier to take than to pass a fitness test and still be in a situation where you are still at risk and you could still let the team down by pulling up the next day in the second over of the game chasing a ball.
“Mark and myself had a two-minute chat. We both were gutted and then said ‘it is not about us anymore, it is about what the team needed’. It is in the past. We have won the World Cup, that’s all that matters.”
Malan was diagnosed with a grade two tear but less than a fortnight on from suffering the injury the lefthander was back in action yesterday in the first of three ODIs against Australia in Adelaide.
The hosts won by six wickets with relative ease as a mainly secondstring England – only skipper Buttler and opening batter Jason Roy were ODI regulars from this line-up – were thoroughly outclassed.
While Australia overhauled England’s 287-9 with 3.1 overs to spare, thanks to fifties from David Warner, Travis Head and Steve Smith, Malan gave the tourists some cheer with a fine 134 off 128 balls.
He led the recovery from 66-4 four and 118-5 to put some competitive spin on this series opener.
Malan is hoping to push his case for next year’s 50-over World Cup in India and the T20 equivalent in 2024, where England will be making the defence of both trophies.
He added: “To be fit and perform like I did is very satisfying after the disappointment of last week – disappointment but also the massive elation of winning that World Cup.”