Higher The Ranking, More The Pressure, Says No. 1 T20I Batsman Dawid Malan

There have been very few instances when a player who is at the top of the ICC rankings doesn’t have a fixed spot in the team- Dawid Malan is one such case. Sitting atop of ICC T20I batsman rankings, Malan is yet to confirm his place in the playing eleven.

After the home T20I series against Australia in September, Malan leapt over Babar Azam to become attain the numero uno spot. Since his debut in 2017, the left-hander has been consistently scoring runs and winning matches for the three lions.

England will take on South Africa in 6 limited-overs matches. The 3-match T20I series will begin on November 27th, followed by 3 ODIs. All the 6 games will take place in Cape Town and Paarl.

No. 1 ranking doesn’t guarantee you a spot in the team: Dawid Malan

Ahead of the series, Dawid Malan, who is in South Africa, opined that while he enjoys being the highest-ranked player, it still doesn’t guarantee a spot in the eleven. Malan said that he will look back at his success with fond memories post-retirement.

He understands that there is added pressure and responsibilities for being the top T20I batsman. Malan is trying not to let the rankings affect his batting either.

As quoted by ESPNCricinfo, Dawid Malan said, “It is something I will probably enjoy more when I have retired. It is not something I am really looking at right now. It doesn’t guarantee runs, it doesn’t guarantee you a spot in the team. It’s something that, the day I retire, I will look back on it with fond memories.

“But the higher your rankings in anything, the more you are looked to and the more pressure there is on you. That’s something I am trying to not let affect me, by not worrying where I am in terms of No. 1, or 20, or 100 in the world.”

Despite scoring runs consistently, opportunities have been few and far for Malan. The 33-year-old has played only 16 T20Is where he averages 48 at a strike rate of 146. In 16 matches, he has seven half-centuries and a hundred against New Zealand.

Dawid Malan reckons that everyone has to work hard to be part of the national team, and it is not served to anyone. The reason for Malan’s less number of matches has been the abundance of batting talent in the England team. He has got opportunities when other batters have been injured or not available to play, and the stylish left-hander has grabbed those with both hands.

He doesn’t complain about lack of game time, as the Roehampton-born knows that players in the limited-overs side are World Cup winners and have been in the team for a long time. Hence, they would be preferred over a newcomer.

Dawid Malan continued, “I think everyone has to work to play for England. I don’t think it’s ever just given on a plate. If you look at the limited opportunities I’ve had since I was in the first Twenty20 squad in 2016, I’ve only played 16 games.

“You obviously look back and think you probably didn’t get as much of a run, but that’s understandable because of the quality of players England have had – they won a World Cup and been absolutely fantastic.”

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