Dawid Malan conceded he did not look like scoring a run in the series against South Africa and so, after registering his maiden half-century in Test cricket, albeit against a less threatening West Indian attack, the England No5 is starting to feel more at home.
Malan’s Test career began in startling fashion at the Oval when yorked by Kagiso Rabada for one and had returned a top score of just 17 from his first four innings. But a composed 65 in a stand of 162 with the double-centurion Alastair Cook was an encouraging performance, albeit one that left a slight tinge of regret when he was caught at slip off the spinner on the stroke of lunch. There are Ashes berths at stake during a series that is already shaping up as a mismatch – the response of the West Indies batsmen Kieran Powell and Kyle Hope notwithstanding – and though Malan predictably claimed to not be looking that far ahead, the appraisal of his first genuine contribution in Test cricket was slightly telling.
“I needed that to be fair,” said the 29-year-old Middlesex left-hander at stumps on day two.
“I didn’t look like scoring a run against South Africa, so it was nice to hit a few in the middle and feel a bit more composed at the crease. In the back of my mind I knew it was always going to turn around and fortunately it happened here.”
Malan had begun his 139-ball innings during the twilight period on the first day after watching Cook and Joe Root bat for the best part of five fours – before play he had predicted this scenario – and claimed the challenge of starting under lights came in reading the swing of the new ball, rather than any express pace from the tourists.
He said: “It was a different experience. I wouldn’t like to have faced someone with pace under the lights but while the older ball seemed a bit easier, the shiny new one came down as a bit of a blur.
“You have fewer cues for which way it will swing. But it’s still a ball and if you watch it hard enough you should be able to hit it.” On his partnership with Cook, one which saw the former England captain play along with the bat taps and glove punches that Malan has developed as a habit between overs, he said: “Cook gave me a masterclass – it was the best seat in the house.
“To score 243, whether it’s a good wicket or not, is a fantastic achievement. It just showed how disciplined [you need to be]. He didn’t look like he strayed from the first over to the one he got out in and for a younger player, by international standards, to watch how a master goes about his work and compile his runs shows what you need to be at this level. He’s quite chatty, I’ve got a few habits I like to do in the middle and he was happy to go along with them to make me feel comfortable. He’s a fantastic player and a great bloke as well.”
