Dawid Malan cites Mike Hussey example in hoping best is yet to come

Malan has been called into England’s 14-man squad for their forthcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan at Emirates Old Trafford, starting on August 28, with the possibility of further call-ups for six limited overs games against Australia

Dawid Malan is hoping his best is yet to come after posting a sensational maiden career double century against Derbyshire this week.

The left-hander, 32, is desperate to progress his career with Yorkshire and England, and has pointed to two legendary Australian left-handers as prime examples of how great things can be achieved by players in their mid-thirties.

Malan has been called into England’s 14-man squad for their forthcoming three-match Vitality T20 series against Pakistan at Emirates Old Trafford, starting on August 28, with the possibility of further call-ups for six limited overs games against Australia.

He is a regular fixture in England’s T20 plans, but played his only one-day international in May of last year and has not played a Test since August 2018.

He was ruled out of contention for the recent Royal London one-day international series against Ireland due to a calf injury and now returns to the international fold brimming with confidence.

In three Bob Willis Trophy games for Yorkshire, he has posted standout scores of 73 and 219 against Durham and Derbyshire, with the latter particularly impressive in challenging Emerald Headingley conditions over the weekend.

Asked whether he believes his best cricket is still to come, he said: “Definitely. I feel I’ve got a hell of a lot of time left to play and so many more runs to score. 

“I feel fit, I don’t feel old and don’t feel past it. Mike Hussey was playing Test cricket and scoring hundreds at 36, Matthew Hayden and guys like that as well.

^{Malan has been in the runs for Yorkshire}

“As a batsman, you are in your prime from 28 onwards until whenever anyone says your eyes go. I hope that doesn’t come any time soon!

“The determination from my side to keep improving will keep driving me to score runs for as long as I play.”

Malan’s preparations for this shortened English summer involved approximately a month of one-to-one training sessions at Headingley with Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale.

Gale has since revealed the attention to detail in regards to Malan’s preparations was particularly impressive - something the man himself has revealed was not always the case.

“I am very particular in how I like to train and prepare,” he confirmed. “But I’d say when I was younger, I just rocked up and did what I wanted to do - just hit balls and tick boxes.

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“Now, I’m quite clear on what I need to do to perform. It doesn’t guarantee performances or runs, but it makes me feel comfortable.

“It puts me in a position to be able to score runs, and I’ve been doing that for three or four years with the same routines and adding bits and bobs to it to try and improve.

“Part of the reason for me moving to Yorkshire was to keep pushing myself to improve and become a better player.

“If I can keep doing that, it will be fantastic for me and Yorkshire.”

^{Malan made a century in England's T20I win over New Zealand in Napier last year}

Expanding on why and when he felt the need to change his training methods, Malan continued: “When I was younger, I’d listen to a lot of people, and I was influenced by a lot of people.

“I’ve had coaches in the past who would believe doing something would work for you. So, as a young player, I’d try new things. You have to try new things because if you don’t, you’ll just keep getting the same results. But from 2014/15 I settled on a way to prepare and train. 

“I like to know my rhythm, my movements and the grooving of my technique are in my place so that when I get to the middle, I can perform under pressure instead of having to worry about my technical things.

“I quite like to have feelgood nets the day or two before. I very rarely face bowlers anymore in the nets unless it’s been a prolonged period without playing.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have played for 11 months of the year pretty much since 2015, so I’ve been able to cut certain things out of my training.

“That has allowed me to work on my technique and keep my rhythm and movements pretty good to be consistent.”

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