Could Dawid Malan be the new Michael Lumb?

Middlesex batsman stars as Lions edge out Pakistan A

A few months prior to the 2010 World Twenty20, Michael Lumb probably didn’t have the acquisition of a Caribbean visa on his agenda.

He had shown decent form in the domestic 20-over competition, bagging an Indian Premier League contract in the process, but it was not until he made a match-winning, unbeaten 58 for England Lions against the senior team in Dubai that higher honours became a reality.

Fast forward to the latter stages of 2015, with the global event again round the corner, and could another bolter be in line for a call-up?

Dawid Malan, the Middlesex left-hander, made three half-centuries as the Lions got the better of their Pakistan second-string counterparts by the odd game in five, indicating that should the squad for March’s tournament in India require the batting ranks bolstering, the selectors could do worse than look in his direction.

In the decider, which was decided by a Super Over, Malan made a 55-ball 81 as the Lions, with Sam Billings weighing in with an even half-century, matched the hosts’ tally of 165. Their score of 12 from the decisive six balls was defended by Tom Curran, who conceded just eight.

Earlier in the series, Malan had top-scored with 51 in the first game which saw Pakistan ease to a seven-wicket victory with an over in hand. He backed it up in the next game with 80 as the Lions, with Jamie Overton taking 3 for 26, won by 41 runs.

Game three had the home side back in front with a four-wicket victory, courtesy of Sharjeel Khan’s 50-ball 70 despite the best efforts of Steven Finn, who picked up 3 for 22 from four tight overs.

A low-scoring fourth game went the way of the Lions as Curran’s 2 for 15 was complemented by an undefeated 61 from Billings and 37 from Liam Dawson, who had a solid series with a number of meaningful contributions.

Finn, with another four overs under his belt, was deemed to have done enough to warrant a return to the senior squad for the tour of South Africa and, fitness obviously very much permitting, will be in with a chance of the limited-overs instalments that follow.

Whether that kind of opportunity goes the way of others in the Lions squad, apart from the likes of Reece Topley and Billings who look like shoo-ins and possibly James Vince after his showings against the full Pakistan outfit, is another matter.

What is evident, however, is England having a group of players apart from the obvious who appear capable of moving up a level if need be.

Winning in overseas conditions can only help matters, of course, and playing with the very real possibility of promotion adds another necessary element.

Whisper it quietly, but on the evidence provided from the United Arab Emirates in recent weeks, both senior and Lions teams, England are in decent shape and progressing nicely.