Malan excited to be back in the mix

England batsman Dawid Malan is excited about facing the red ball again after a spree of limited-overs cricket.

Malan, the world’s No. 1 T20 batsman, played the last of his 15 Tests in August, 2018. The 33-year-old has 725 Test runs in 15 matches with one century and six fifties.

Asked about his surprise call up, Malan said: “I’d always wanted another crack at it (Tests). Realistically, did I think it would happen? Probably not. To get that call was fantastic… I’m a bit worried about how I’d face up against the red ball, but it’s always exciting getting a call to play for your country.”

Malan acknowledged that constant exposure to international cricket would help ease the pressure.

“White-ball and red-ball cricket have their own unique set of challenges. But playing white-ball cricket at that level and pressure does help you to stay in the mix. It doesn’t guarantee you runs in a different format, but it helps to prepare mentally for the pressures that come with it,” Malan said.

Malan conceded that lack of game time in First Class cricket would be a concern. “We all know how tough English conditions can be. It’s also a great place to bat once you get in — as Joe Root has shown in all these Tests. He gets in and scores big, and that’s the challenge for all of us,” he said.