Malan to address early-season problems

By Mark Pennell

Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan has revealed that his inability to score big runs at the start of a domestic season is becoming a worrying trend and a cause for concern.

The 24-year-old South African-raised left-hander put an end to his dismal first half to the LV= County Championship with a season’s best 106 at Uxbridge this week, against Warwickshire. But even Malan’s first four-day century in 11 months has failed to massage the figures in that he still has only 450 Championship runs to his name in 2012 at a modest average of 30.

“This ton was definitely long overdue,” admitted Malan. “The start to the season has been a struggle for me once again and I’ve really no idea why. I like batting at Uxbridge and it was nice to come back here and bat like I know I can. To be honest I’ve felt pretty good all season, but this was the first time I’ve gone on to make a big score.

“To some extent I may have tried to change my game to suit the early-season wickets and that may well have been the wrong thing to do. I’ve now gone back to how I usually play, the way I was brought up to play on South African pitches that don’t do as much off the surface laterally - in that, if it’s there to hit I should hit it. That policy has finally come off for me this week and I hope I can kick on from here.”

With three figures under his belt against the Championship leaders' impressive seam attack, Malan now has good reason to think his poor run of form is behind him. He added: “I’m going to go out and play my normal game of ‘see ball, hit ball’ from here on and rely on that working for me rather than just battling to survive.
 
“I’d rather get out being positive than simply hanging around waiting for a ball with my name on it. If anything that’s been the mistake I’ve made for the past two years, especially at the start of each season. Everyone knows I’ve been struggling and, if I’m honest, I didn’t think I would be playing this game against Warwickshire. As it turned out, Sam Robson was the one to be left out, I got another opportunity and I’m happy to have taken my chance.

“It’s been the most frustrating part of my career and so many other players tell me I should be averaging more than I do. I don’t know why I haven’t nailed it yet, but I feel I’m moving in the right direction at last.

“I’m still relatively young and would probably expect to be at my peak at 28. So if I can keep learning from my mistakes, keep improving, then who knows, and I may even be somewhere near my best a couple of years ahead of that schedule. One thing’s for sure - I’ve no intention of giving up.”




Date: 03/08/2012 13:49:01 by Mark Pennell
In: Today | Middlesex |