Dawid Malan, a well-known England cricketer, has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 37.
Dawid Malan played 22 Tests, 30 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 62 T20 matches. Malan is one of only two England players, alongside Jos Buttler, to score centuries in all three formats of the game. He hasn’t played for England since the 2023 World Cup and decided to retire after being left out of the upcoming series against Australia.
Malan expressed his gratitude for the chance to play for England, saying it has been an amazing journey since he started in July 2017. He mentioned how tough the sport is, both mentally and physically, and shared that many players leave the game feeling like they could have done more. However, Malan said he is satisfied with what he has achieved in his career, even though it wasn’t always easy. He often felt pressure to prove himself and secure his place on the team.
Malan made an impact in T20 cricket, especially after the 2019 ODI World Cup, where his consistent performance earned him a spot in the 20-over team. He became the top-ranked T20I batter in September 2020 and was the fastest player to reach 1,000 runs in T20I, achieving the milestone in just 24 innings. Malan was also part of the England team that won the T20 World Cup in 2022, though he missed the final stages due to injury.
In ODIs, Dawid Malan took longer to make a name for himself but eventually scored five centuries in 15 innings between 2022 and 2023. He earned a place in the 2023 World Cup squad and scored another century during the tournament, though England’s overall performance was disappointing.
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Reflecting on his Test career, Malan admitted he wished he could have been more consistent. He played 22 Tests, with his best performance coming in an Ashes match against Australia, but struggled to maintain his form. Malan said Test cricket was mentally exhausting, and his performance often dropped during long series.
Despite stepping away from international cricket, Malan is expected to continue playing in various T20 leagues. He recently helped Oval Invincibles win The Hundred and was part of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape team that won the SA20 league last season. England’s managing director, Rob Key, praised Malan for his resilience and determination throughout his career, saying his contributions to the game will be remembered for years to come.
