Dawid Malan, arguably one of the most accomplished and versatile batsmen England has ever had, has hung his international boots at 37. Being more or less a T20 specialist, Malan leaves an illustrious career full of big achievements in all formats of this game.
Malan made his T20I debut in 2017, in a fine style, scoring 78 runs off 44 balls against South Africa. All in all, he played 22 Tests, 30 ODIs, and 62 T20Is, becoming only one of two England batters, the other being Jos Buttler, to score centuries across all three formats. He was more successful in T20I cricket, which saw him rise to the top of the ICC T20I batting rankings in double-quick time and also become the fastest to 1,000 T20I runs.
Malan had been a key performer for the England side which won the T20 World Cup in 2022. However, a groin injury kept him out of the knockout stages. His performances were very critical for England in their triumphs. He also garnered success in the ODI format by scoring six centuries, with the most important being played against Bangladesh in the 2023 World Cup.
Looking back at his career, Malan had satisfaction even though it was fraught with challenges and never-ending pressure. In Tests, he was not as prolific, though he came up with some memorable knocks in the 2017-18 Ashes, where he got his only Test century.
“It has been an incredible journey since July 2017,” Malan said. “I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to play for England in all three formats.
“Cricket, like most sports, is an industry where almost everyone eventually retires wishing they had done that little bit more. Whether you’ve played ten Tests or 100, many step away regretting not playing just one more, scoring a few more runs, or winning more trophies.
“Right now, as I retire from international cricket, I can say I am genuinely satisfied. It has not been easy. It may be my nature, but for whatever reason, it has always seemed that I had something to prove and often felt as if I was playing for my place. The pressure goes with the territory, but it does take a mental and physical toll. Even so, I look back with pride on what I have been able to achieve.”
As he moves into the franchise cricket world where he already has a very renowned name legacy of Malan’s bruised but unconquered spirit will only intensify. England Men’s Cricket Managing Director Rob Key paid tribute to Malan for his tenacity and the integral part he has played in much of England’s cricketing success.
“Dawid Malan retires after an excellent international career marked by resilience and determination.
“Early on, he had to fight for every opportunity, often facing some of the best teams in the world. His contributions were pivotal, particularly during the memorable World Cup victories in Australia, where he played an integral role in the team’s success.
“His legacy will be remembered as one of tenacity and achievement on the international stage – traits any player would be extremely proud to have.”
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