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Nick Compton, Ladbrokes’ Ashes ambassador, reckons Dawid Malan is an example to England’s batsmen
For any player, young or old, the possibility of playing in a Boxing Day Test Match at the MCG is enough to put a shiver up your spine.
The thought of 100,000 people surrounding you as another Mitchell Starc bouncer rips past your nose is something to contemplate for this England team, and it has got to get them fired up.
As disappointed as Joe Root’s men will be after Adelaide, they know what has gone has gone and now here is the chance to regain some pride and do something special. No, it won’t save the series but it could save a few reputations. The last two tests could also make a few new and welcome headlines about emerging talent.
Senior players will be playing for their careers and the fringe players like Dawid Malan, Mark Stoneman and James Vince will want to nail down their spots after a good start to the tour, while the less well-known players like Tom Curran, Jake Ball and Mason Crane will want to show why they warrant further investment of opportunity.
Dawid Malan, for me, was the biggest positive to come out of the Adelaide defeat.
I have known Dawid a long time and to see him playing the way he is now shows how he has matured as a player.
The way he has been able to adapt, find the resolve to take on the Aussies and the conviction to see it through to a proper score has been hugely impressive to witness.
Trust me – this hasn’t happened by chance.
He has made journeys far and wide to less glamorous venues than MCG and the SCG, to take up contracts and exploit opportunities that others just wouldn’t do.
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Dawid Malan is top of England’s averages with 302 runs at an average of 50.4
No, he could not have done it without working hard – but everyone works hard these days. What Dawid has done has been honest with himself. Really honest with himself. Brutally honest. Now that takes courage.
His ability has always been obvious but technically, he was in need of adjustment to be confident of excelling at the top level. You can see he looks like someone trying to keep the good ball out more than anything else – but at the WACA in Perth he revealed much of the hard work he has done in the nets and in the middle at Middlesex over the past three years to become a top professional batsman.
He has done this by being able to play the ball very late. That is his defining quality and one that has earned him his place in this side. His shot selection has discipline, where three years ago it was more erratic.
He now builds an innings and understands the value of committing time at the crease to get himself in and the importance of being resolute.
In between he unfurls those attractive cover drives and strong pull shots but only at the right moments. His batting has more of a permanence to it now which, of course is what Test cricket is all about.
I think for much of his career he has been frustrated with himself as much as anything. Goodness knows we’ve all been in that place but instead of letting that frustration boil over he has become quieter and channelled his energy into quality practice. He has learned to use emotions to do with his batting in a more effective way and in doing so has developed a strong mental energy.
It is what England desperately need right now with their senior batsmen under such pressure.
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Stuart Broad has struggled with the ball against Australia, averaging more than 60
Despite the pressure, I don’t think there will be many, or possibly any changes to the team for Melbourne, unless Craig Overton declares himself unfit.
Much has been written about Stuart Broad with suggestions he should make way in Melbourne. While I agree he’s not bowled his best over the past year, you still have to give your best bowlers the chance to come back and show what they can do.
I have had the privilege of playing with Stuart when he’s been at his brilliant best – the Wanderers in 2015 where he ran through South Africa and at Lord’s against New Zealand in 2013 when the game was even.
He is a man for the big occasion and let me tell you when he is at his best you can see it in everything he does. Legs pumping, he runs in hard and pitches the ball up at good pace.
He can be less effective when he bowls fuller and within himself and even less effective still when he bowls short.
He has had good success in trying to mix up his pace and bowl cutters, particularly to left-handers, but this has possibly contributed to his current inconsistency, as he has got away from getting his wrist behind the ball and giving it a chance to seam and bounce.
When you roll your wrist across the ball (wobble seam) it can cause confusion to batsmen because you are unsure whether the ball will grip and cut away from the right-hander or go on straight. It’s unlikely to bounce as much though because of the slightly lower arm trajectory and lack of a proud seam.
In other parts of the world this works well for him but in Australia I’d like to see Stuart use his aggression, height and swing. Especially at the G in a Boxing Day Test with all the crowd on his case.
That’s why I’d stick with him for now. If things don’t change in Melbourne then perhaps a few rookies will get a chance to prove why they are there in Sydney. But I would back Broad for now.
***Nick Compton is Ladbrokes‘ Ashes brand ambassador. Australia start as 1/2 favourites to win the fourth Test with England 17/4 outsiders and the draw at 7/2.***