Who is Dawid Malan, England's top-ranked T20 batsman retiring from international cricket?

Former England batter Dawid Malan, who once held the title of the world's No.1 ranked T20I batter, has officially announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 37. Malan, who played 22 Tests, 30 ODIs, and 62 T20Is for England, is recognized for his significant contributions across all formats. Notably, he and Jos Buttler are the only England batters in the men’s team to have scored centuries in all three formats of the game. Despite his achievements, Malan was not included in England’s squad after the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 in India. His decision to retire was confirmed after being left out of the England squad for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia.?

As he retires, let's take a deep dive into Malan's life and career:?

The rise of Dawid Johannes Malan

Born on September 3, 1987, in Roehampton, London, Dawid Johannes Malan emerged as a distinguished cricketer for England, representing Middlesex in the domestic circuit. A left-handed batter who occasionally bowled leg-spin, Malan’s batting style is marked by a blend of composure and the ability to time the ball exquisitely, particularly in the shorter formats. His skill in balancing strategic play with aggressive shots made him a reliable asset in T20 cricket.

Dawid Malan's steady climb to cricketing stardom

Malan's journey to the pinnacle of international cricket was a gradual but determined progression. His domestic career began in 2006, and over the years, he steadily built a reputation for himself. Starting with MCC Young Cricketers in 2006 and playing for Boland in South Africa during the 2005/2006 season, he joined Middlesex and debuted in a Twenty20 Cup match against Surrey on July 7, 2006.

By 2007, Malan had become the top-scorer in the Second XI Championship, amassing 969 runs at an average of 51. His first-class debut for Middlesex came in June 2008, where he impressed with an unbeaten 132. In July 2008, he made headlines with a century (103 off 54 balls) in the Twenty20 Cup quarter-final against Lancashire Lightning, setting a world record for the fourth-highest individual score when batting at number six in a T20.

?Malan was among the few foreign players who agreed to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore despite security concerns. He represented Trent Rockets in The Hundred until 2023, later moving to Oval Invincibles in 2024 and being part of their victorious squad. Additionally, Malan played for Sunrisers Eastern Cape Town in the SA20 league.

In the summer of 2024, after retiring from red-ball cricket, Malan transitioned into coaching, joining Yorkshire's staff for the County Championship.

Malan’s journey in the Indian Premier League and beyond

After dominating the T20I rankings in 2020, Malan signed with Punjab Kings for INR 1.5 crores in the IPL 2021 auction. Despite a promising start, scoring 26 runs on his IPL debut against Delhi Capitals, his opportunities were limited, and that match remained his only appearance.

Malan continued to impress in other formats, notably scoring his maiden ODI century against the Netherlands during England's tour in 2022. His century contributed to England’s record-setting ODI score, just two runs shy of the 500-run mark. During the same match, he took his maiden ODI wicket, making him the only Englishman to score a century and take a wicket in all three formats of international cricket.

Ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Malan excelled during a preparatory series against New Zealand, scoring 54, 96, and 127, making him the third-fastest to reach five ODI centuries. Despite England’s disappointing campaign in the World Cup, Malan emerged as their leading run-scorer with 404 runs in nine innings, including a century (140) against Bangladesh, making him the oldest Englishman to achieve this feat in the tournament’s history.

Malan's Test career and T20I success

Malan’s Test debut came in July 2017 during England's third Test against South Africa. Despite a challenging start, his performances in the Ashes 2021-22, where he scored 82 and 80 in successive Tests, showcased his resilience, though consistency eluded him in the longest format.

In T20Is, Malan made an impactful debut in June 2017 against South Africa, scoring 78 runs and earning the Player of the Match award. He set the record for the fastest century by an Englishman in T20Is in 2019 against New Zealand. During England's tour of South Africa in 2020, he topped the ICC T20I rankings, breaching the 900-point mark for the first time in the format's history. Although part of the victorious England squad in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, Malan's form dipped, leading to his exclusion from the 2024 squad.

Family and personal life

Malan’s cricketing roots run deep, with his father, also named Dawid, having played domestic cricket in both South Africa and England. Malan’s wife, Claire, gave birth to their first daughter, Summer Skye, during the final Ashes Test in early 2022. Their family expanded with the birth of a son in September 2023, coinciding with Malan's participation in The Hundred.

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As Dawid Malan steps away from international cricket, his legacy as a versatile and determined cricketer remains, marked by his achievements across all formats and his unwavering commitment to the game.

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