England batsman Dawid Malan is ready for the Ashes: 'I played under armed guard in Pakistan so the Aussies don't scare me'

  • Dawid Malan played in the most heavily guarded cricket match in history
  • He was an overseas player for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League
  • He and Chris Jordan became first Englishmen to play in Pakistan since 2009

Before Sunday's touchdown in Perth Dawid Malan had never set foot in Australia, let alone experienced the kind of furies that may be unleashed at the Gabbatoir in this month's opening Ashes Test.

That may not provide much reassurance to England fans concerned that their porous top five for the forthcoming series is somewhat less than five star.

Yet in the course of a transformative year for the 30-year-old Middlesex lefthander he has already given indications that he may have the constitution to meet one of cricket's ultimate challenges.

Dawid Malan contemplates the Ashes from the comfort of Lord's before flying out

Dawid Malan contemplates the Ashes from the comfort of Lord's before flying out

It can be overlooked that, several months before he smashed 78 on his international debut in a T20 against South Africa, Malan chose to play in what was probably the most heavily-guarded cricket match in history.


As an overseas player for Peshawar Zalmi in the Dubai-based Pakistan Super League, Malan did not shy away – as some of his more timorous peers might have done - from playing in the final, staged in Lahore.

Against the backdrop of an unprecedented operation involving 10,000 security personnel, he and Chris Jordan became the first Englishmen to play a major fixture in Pakistan since the Sri Lanka team was attacked by terrorists in 2009.

Amid the autumnal calm at Lord's last week he recalled the surreal experience of being spirited into the country in the middle of the night.

Malan made his Test bow for England against South Africa and West Indies this summer

Malan made his Test bow for England against South Africa and West Indies this summer

The 30-year-old played as an overseas player for Peshawar Zalmi in Lahore earlier this year

The 30-year-old played as an overseas player for Peshawar Zalmi in Lahore earlier this year

'We were only there for 24 hours. We arrived about 3am, were taken to the hotel by armoured convoy, slept, then went to the stadium and immediately after the game we were put into armoured vehicles and taken back to the airport,' he says. 

'It felt like the whole army was guarding us.

'It was a fantastic atmosphere and I hadn't really heard noise like that before, it made me hungry for more.

'You play in these different tournaments and it's as near to the pressure of Test cricket as you will get. 

'In county cricket you might have a three year contract and a bit of a cushion, in these you have got the local players looking up to you and owners looking to you to perform. It definitely helped prepare me for my international debut.'

Playing for the Peshawar franchise turned out to be a key step along a winding route for someone who might be termed the accidental Englishman.

Unlike some cricketers of South African heritage, Malan did not originally plan to make his career here. 

Malan and Chris Jordan were first Englishmen to play competitively in Pakistan since 2009

Malan and Chris Jordan were first Englishmen to play competitively in Pakistan since 2009

He came over at 18 to do a summer term's coaching at Oundle School in Northants and expected to go home at the end of it, but ended up staying for life.

And Malan (his Christian name is pronounced Dar-Vid) was actually born in London and spent his first seven years here before the family returned home.

His father, also Dawid, was a fringe first class cricketer in South Africa who had come over to London to practice as a dentist and joined Teddington in the Middlesex League. 

His son was also to end up playing there, and become the club's only capped player other than Bernard Bosanquet, inventor of the googly.

After arriving, the young Dawid made contact with the MCC Young Cricketers' set-up, run by Middlesex legend Clive Radley.

'Clive initially said he had enough players but then I got a message saying there had been a couple of late injuries and asking if I was available for a match,' recounts Malan.

Malan takes a break in the nets as England warm up ahead of their match at Perth

Malan takes a break in the nets as England warm up ahead of their match at Perth

MALAN IS QUICK OUT THE BLOCKS! 

Dawid Malan loves a fast start. Having made 64 on his first-class debut for South African side Boland in 2006, he scored 132 not out on his Championship bow for Middlesex two years later.

His 78 against South Africa in June is England's best T20 score by a debutant.

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'I ended up getting 80 against quite a good attack at Hinckley. Clive asked me about my background and I mentioned I was born in England. "So you've got a British passport?" he asked.

'Then I played a match against quite a strong Surrey side and got 60. I got offered a place with MCC and six weeks later Middlesex gave me a trial and then quickly offered me a two year contract.

'I owe a lot to Clive. The same day I signed the contract I made my debut in a T20 against Surrey in front of 20,000 people.

'I'm not going to sit here and deny that South Africa hasn't been a big part of my life. My idols growing up were people like Gary Kirsten and Shaun Pollock. 

'But England is where I call home, have done for a long time and it is where I am going to spend the rest of my life.'

Malan is set to play in England's middle-order as they look to retain the Ashes down under

Malan is set to play in England's middle-order as they look to retain the Ashes down under

Malan raises his bat after hitting a defiant half-century against West Indies at Headingley

Malan raises his bat after hitting a defiant half-century against West Indies at Headingley

While Malan is new to Australia, the travelling English hordes should be assured that he is a grown-up cricketer. He speaks in businesslike, clipped tones that are a balance of his English and South African roots.

Indeed he believes it is to the advantage of him, Mark Stoneman and James Vince – Kevin Pietersen has helpfully described England's top order as 'a complete shambles' – that they have all been around the block.

'We've had the highs where you think "I've made it" and then you get a few noughts in a row and are brought back to earth. That's the advantage of when you get picked at an older age,' says Malan.

So he was not unduly perturbed when he got memorably cleaned up on his Test debut at the Oval against South Africa by a yorker from Kagiso Rabada.

'The Oval was a bit of a blur, I remember being on my knees with my poles everywhere. 

Unlike some cricketers of South African heritage, Malan did not plan to make his career here

Unlike some cricketers of South African heritage, Malan did not plan to make his career here

Malan smashed 78 in a T20 against South Africa on his international debut in June

Malan smashed 78 in a T20 against South Africa on his international debut in June

'It was a good experience, I got on the tube going to the ground next morning, picked up the paper and there was a headline with a picture of me on my knees saying "Welcome to Test cricket". I had a chuckle about that.'

Two subsequent sixties against the West Indies were enough to confirm Trevor Bayliss's initial belief that he is more than just a dashing white-ball batsman, and book his seat to Australia.

'I've always ended up going back to see my family in South Africa in the off season but in hindsight it would have been nice to go to Australia,' he admits.

'Playing them in their backyard is going to be tough but the Ashes can bring the best out of people. I'm not scared to ask questions about it. I've had a chat to Gus Fraser and Graham Thorpe.

Malan was clean bowled by Kagiso Rabada on his Test debut at the Oval this summer

Malan was clean bowled by Kagiso Rabada on his Test debut at the Oval this summer

'I think the major thing is how to deal with all the stuff that goes with the Ashes – the hype, the media scrutiny. It's trying to filter that and keep your mind clear. 

'It's a good thing people won't recognise me walking down the street - perhaps I should stay away from Broady and Jimmy.

'Every cricketer's role is to prove people wrong. Nobody walks into test cricket as the finished article. The three of us (Stoneman and Vince) would all have wanted to score hundreds already, sometimes you have to fail to learn how to succeed. 

'Even Alastair Cook goes out trying to prove a point every time. There may be a few people wanting to see us fail but if England's top five can put runs on the board.

'I'm going to try and enjoy it. I'm not going to hide away or never go out at night, you have to remember these can be the best times of your life.'