The accomplished English cricketer, Dawid Malan, has retired from international cricket. This news came from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday, August 28.
Malan has made key contributions to all three game formats in his career. He scored 1,892 runs in T20 Internationals, playing 62 games. In One Day Internationals, he participated in 30 matches, accumulating 1,450 runs. In Tests, he played 22 games, scoring 1,074 runs.
Dawid, built an impressive statistic during his career. He’s only the second English player, after Jos Buttler, to hit a hundred runs in every game type at the international level.
Dawid Malan: A Late Bloomer with an Impactful Debut
Malan stepped into international cricket with a bang. His first T20I against South Africa in 2017 was dazzling. He racked up a stunning 78 runs across just 44 balls. With nerves of steel and an all-out approach, he soon became essential for England, especially in T20 matches. His Test match record was varied.
One high point was a standout hundred-run game in the 2017-18 Ashes series in Perth. But, where Malan truly sparkled was in the brisk, shorter games.
Dominance in T20 Cricket
Malan’s ascent in T20 cricket was nothing less than rapid fire. By 2020, he topped the chart of the ICC Men’s T20I Rankings, acclaimed as the top T20I batter worldwide. He consistently performed well. In 2021, Malan set a record by being the quickest to make 1,000 runs in T20Is, managing this feat in merely 24 games. His key contributions fueled England’s T20 cricket achievements, peaking with him being part of the winning team at the T20 World Cup in 2022.
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Dawid Malan reflects on a Mixed Test Career
Despite shining in T20, Malan had a bittersweet view of his Test career. He shared with The Times his dismay at his sporadic success in longer cricket formats. His inability to secure a constant spot in the Test team was a particular sore point. His most recent Test cricket showing was during the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart in 2022.
“Growing up, Test cricket was my ultimate dream,” stated Malan. “I had moments of brilliance, but there were gaps when I fell short of my own standards. It was a letdown because I believed I was capable of more. On a positive note, I outdid myself in the white-ball formats.”
Acknowledging the Support of Eoin MorganMalan didn’t miss the chance to give a shout-out to ex-England skipper Eoin Morgan. Morgan had a mega impact on his pro career. Malan remembered, “Eoin was a champ at blocking out distractions and hushing them. Suppose there was gossip or chatter; he’d be in my corner. He’d tell me, ‘If I spotted anything off in your game, I would be the first to let you know.’
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A Legacy in Limited-Overs Cricket
Dawid Malan stepping back signals a change in English short-form cricket. He’s known for his cool under stress and for making records. The last time he played for England was in November 2023, in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup against Pakistan. Now, Malan is leaving international cricket. But he leaves a trace of greatness, mostly in T20. Fans will remember what he did for a long time.
English