Dawid Malan at risk of being dropped by England for T20 World Cup despite world No 1 rank

[sage]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2021/10/20/england-vs-new-zealand-t20-world-cup-warm-up-live-score-latest/

 

England are considering dropping Dawid Malan, the world No 1 T20 batsman, for Saturday’s World Cup opener against the West Indies as concerns grow about his form and suitability to conditions in the UAE.

 

Malan has an outstanding record for England in T20 cricket, averaging 43.2, with a strike rate of 139, from 30 matches. But there is a growing feeling that his style of play - typically taking 10 or 15 balls to play himself in before accelerating - is ill-suited to the challenge at this tournament. 

 

In England’s second warm-up game against New Zealand on Wednesday, he scored only 11 off 15 balls in the total of 163-6, which set up a 13-run victory. Malan scored 18 off 18 balls in England’s first warm-up, the defeat to India, once again far below the scoring rate the rest of the team managed. 

 

Moeen Ali’s fine recent form in the IPL, when he won the tournament with Chennai Super Kings, has also endangered Malan’s place. Moeen scored an undefeated 43 off only 20 balls against India in Monday’s warm-up game and now demands inclusion in the side. 

 

If Malan were to be dropped, Moeen is the likeliest option to bat at number three. Moeen has performed the role in the IPL, where he is renowned for attacking from the start of his innings and his prowess against spin. Since the 2016 T20 World Cup, Moeen has a strike rate of 126 in the Powerplay, compared to Malan’s 115. 

 

Liam Livingstone has regularly batted up the order in T20 franchise cricket, but England believe his power adds a significant dimension to the middle order at number five, from where he scored a T20 century against Pakistan last summer. England have also developed Jonny Bairstow into a number four, although it is possible that, were Moeen to replace Malan at number three, Bairstow and Moeen could be used flexibly.

 

While Malan has regularly played match-winning innings for England - he has been player of the match five times in his 30 games - his recent form has been less impressive. So far in 2021, Malan is averaging 26.8 for England, with a strike rate of just 114. His form in other T20 has also been underwhelming, averaging only 24.5 in his 33 games this year. 

 

Two innings at No 3 in England’s warm-up games provided Dawid Malan with a chance to end the interminable debate about his role in the England side. Instead, it is now raging more than ever - and he is odds-on to be left out of England’s team to face the West Indies on Saturday. 

 

Those opposed to Malan’s inclusion would have done well to compile a better case than this innings. Despite a sumptuous square drive for four from his second ball, Malan still reached his customary 10 off 10 balls. By the time the Powerplay was up, he had hit just 11 from 13 balls. After failing to score off his 14th, he then attempted a reverse sweep against legspinner Ish Sodhi and was lbw for an 11-ball 15. 

 

In a sense, this innings was nothing new: amidst an outstanding start to his T20 international career - six player of the match awards and an average of 43.2 in 30 games - Malan has always produced innings in which he chews up deliveries and is then out before accelerating. 

 

The problem for him is that the UAE is uniquely ill-suited to his style. Conditions demand batsmen exploit the Powerplay before it becomes harder to score: 74 per cent of games in the final stages of the IPL, played in the UAE over the last five weeks, were won by the team that scored more runs in the Powerplay. Winning the Powerplay is more important - and, with Malan, England are at greater risk of losing it. 

[zen]

A good problem to have. Malian struggles to get off quickly which may not work for a side like Eng 

[bowl_out]

I haven't seen much of him in international, but he sucked in the IPL matches he played

[maniac]

Morgan and Malan so 2 of the X1 will drop themselves before the tournament even starts and they are your no.1 bat and your captain

[Ankit_sharma03]

1 hour ago, zen said:

A good problem to have. Malian struggles to get off quickly which may not work for a side like Eng 

not just that he has been found out on slow wkts for a period of time

[Ankit_sharma03]

Only if stokes was here, he is the best guy for them at 3. 

[sage]

Moeen Bhai will take Malans place according to this article

[vvvslaxman]

I think he struggles against spin.

[vvvslaxman]

T20 ranking is not like Test or even ODI ranking. It is easy to reach the top. Average in T20 is useless. But they use that as well.  Not sure how Shamsee became world no.1 bowler. They have to devise a new methodology just for T20.

[Jay]

3 hours ago, sage said:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2021/10/20/england-vs-new-zealand-t20-world-cup-warm-up-live-score-latest/

 

England are considering dropping Dawid Malan, the world No 1 T20 batsman, for Saturday’s World Cup opener against the West Indies as concerns grow about his form and suitability to conditions in the UAE.

 

Malan has an outstanding record for England in T20 cricket, averaging 43.2, with a strike rate of 139, from 30 matches. But there is a growing feeling that his style of play - typically taking 10 or 15 balls to play himself in before accelerating - is ill-suited to the challenge at this tournament. 

 

In England’s second warm-up game against New Zealand on Wednesday, he scored only 11 off 15 balls in the total of 163-6, which set up a 13-run victory. Malan scored 18 off 18 balls in England’s first warm-up, the defeat to India, once again far below the scoring rate the rest of the team managed. 

 

Moeen Ali’s fine recent form in the IPL, when he won the tournament with Chennai Super Kings, has also endangered Malan’s place. Moeen scored an undefeated 43 off only 20 balls against India in Monday’s warm-up game and now demands inclusion in the side. 

 

If Malan were to be dropped, Moeen is the likeliest option to bat at number three. Moeen has performed the role in the IPL, where he is renowned for attacking from the start of his innings and his prowess against spin. Since the 2016 T20 World Cup, Moeen has a strike rate of 126 in the Powerplay, compared to Malan’s 115. 

 

Liam Livingstone has regularly batted up the order in T20 franchise cricket, but England believe his power adds a significant dimension to the middle order at number five, from where he scored a T20 century against Pakistan last summer. England have also developed Jonny Bairstow into a number four, although it is possible that, were Moeen to replace Malan at number three, Bairstow and Moeen could be used flexibly.

 

While Malan has regularly played match-winning innings for England - he has been player of the match five times in his 30 games - his recent form has been less impressive. So far in 2021, Malan is averaging 26.8 for England, with a strike rate of just 114. His form in other T20 has also been underwhelming, averaging only 24.5 in his 33 games this year. 

 

Two innings at No 3 in England’s warm-up games provided Dawid Malan with a chance to end the interminable debate about his role in the England side. Instead, it is now raging more than ever - and he is odds-on to be left out of England’s team to face the West Indies on Saturday. 

 

Those opposed to Malan’s inclusion would have done well to compile a better case than this innings. Despite a sumptuous square drive for four from his second ball, Malan still reached his customary 10 off 10 balls. By the time the Powerplay was up, he had hit just 11 from 13 balls. After failing to score off his 14th, he then attempted a reverse sweep against legspinner Ish Sodhi and was lbw for an 11-ball 15. 

 

In a sense, this innings was nothing new: amidst an outstanding start to his T20 international career - six player of the match awards and an average of 43.2 in 30 games - Malan has always produced innings in which he chews up deliveries and is then out before accelerating. 

 

The problem for him is that the UAE is uniquely ill-suited to his style. Conditions demand batsmen exploit the Powerplay before it becomes harder to score: 74 per cent of games in the final stages of the IPL, played in the UAE over the last five weeks, were won by the team that scored more runs in the Powerplay. Winning the Powerplay is more important - and, with Malan, England are at greater risk of losing it. 

Malan was never a true number 1. What a joke. 

[Lone Wolf]

England will miss Joe Root mark my words.  His record in ODIs in these last 3 years should not have been ignored.