Dawid Malan announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, admitting that his journey with England has been challenging. Malan, who signed a 12-month central contract in October, was the top scorer for England in their disappointing 50-over World Cup campaign in India. However, the 37-year-old left-hander has not represented England since that tournament and faced criticism for his perceived lack of aggression at the crease.
Despite these challenges, Malan stands out as one of only two English batsmen, along with Jos Buttler, to have scored centuries in Tests, ODIs, and T20s. He was also part of England's victorious 2022 T20 World Cup team. Reflecting on his seven-year international career spanning 22 Tests and 92 white-ball matches, Malan expressed his gratitude for the opportunities he had.
"It has been an incredible journey since July 2017," Malan said, highlighting his dual heritage as an English-born player raised in South Africa. "I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to play for England in all three formats." He acknowledged the common sentiment among athletes of wishing they had achieved a bit more but expressed satisfaction with his career.
"It has not been easy. It may be my nature, but for whatever reason, it has always seemed that I had something to prove and often felt as if I was playing for my place," Malan added, noting the mental and physical toll of the sport. Despite the pressures, he looks back with pride on his accomplishments.
Malan, who accumulated 4,416 runs for England across all formats, has signed a white-ball-only contract with Yorkshire and is expected to focus on the global T20 franchise circuit. England managing director Rob Key praised Malan's significant contributions, describing his career as marked by resilience and determination.
