Tears – and acceptance – at missing T20 World Cup final

Dawid Malan shed a few tears after being informed England were unwilling to risk him for the T20 World Cup cricket 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 highest-ranked 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 semi-final thrashing of India but passed all fitness tests 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 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 simultaneously hold the T20 and ODI World Cups.

“We all have tough times in our careers,” he 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 Woody 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.

“If you’re just not fit and not able to do what’s required, it’s probably easier to take than to pass a fitness test and still be in a situation where you’re at risk and could let the

team down by pulling up the next day in the second over of the game.

“Mark and myself had a two-minute chat. We both were gutted and then said ‘it’s not about us it’s about what the team needed’.

“It’s in the past. We’ve 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 left-hander was back in the first of three ODIS against Australia in Adelaide.

The hosts won by six wickets with relative ease as a mainly second-string England – only skipper Buttler and opening batter Jason Roy were ODI regulars – were thoroughly outclassed.

While Australia overhauled England’s 287 for nine with 3.1 overs to spare, thanks to 50s from David Warner, Travis

Head and Steve Smith, Malan gave the tourists some cheer with a fine 134 off 128 balls.

He excellently led the recovery from 66 for four and 118 for five to put some competitive spin on this series opener.

Malan is hoping to push his case for next year’s 50over World Cup in India and the T20 equivalent in 2024, where England defend both trophies.

“To be fit and perform like I did, it’s extremely satisfying after the disappointment of last week – disappointment but also the massive excitement and elation of winning that World Cup,” Malan said.

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

Dawid Malan had to swallow his own disappointments but was still delighted at England’s World Cup win.