Cricket World Cup 2023: Dawid Malan delivers with century when England need it

It does not take much bending of the imagination to picture a situation where Dawid Malan is not playing at this World Cup.

Had Jason Roy's back not let him down, Malan may well have been on the sidelines - with England opting to stick with the opening partnership of Roy and Jonny Bairstow which took them to glory four years ago.

Even with two one-day international hundreds this year - three by the time last month's home series against New Zealand was out - Malan may have been on the outside.

Instead, he stood up when England needed him most.

Last week's nine-wicket defeat by New Zealand in the defending champions' tournament opener was not definitive given the length of this group stage, but it worried England fans, who feared a World Cup defence was in jeopardy.

With 140 to set up a commanding 137-run win against Bangladesh, England's unfussy, unglamorous, run machine delivered.

Malan does not have the chest pumping aggression of Roy or Bairstow, the once-in-a-generation elegance of Joe Root or the destructive power of Jos Buttler.

Still, he proved the perfect man for the crisis.

Team-mates say Malan is the calmest man in the room.

To the media, he is different - never afraid to fight his corner, whether when speaking out in criticism, external of England's system for awarding central contracts or in response to a gentle question post-match in Dharamsala about his ability to play spin.

"I think sometimes, people create a narrative of something that isn't there to support their writing or views," he said.

"It has always been there, sometimes you play good shots, sometimes you play bad shots."

It comes from a man whose career has had its world-beating moments and its misfortune too.

"I feel like every series I'm under pressure," he said. "For me to keep silencing people is all I can do."

Malan was dropped by the Test side after the 2021-22 Ashes defeat, despite only his captain Root scoring more runs.

Having fought to secure his place, he missed England's T20 World Cup final victory in Melbourne later that year with a groin injury.

"To miss out on that World Cup last year was one of the worst things ever," he said. "Hopefully this one I can stay fit and we can play some good cricket and get into the business end."

But 50-over cricket has always seemed his best format - his ability to dig in, go through the gears or attack suggesting a man ideal for the job.

Standing in his way, though, were Roy and Bairstow - statistically England's greatest one-day opening partnership - and, in Malan's original position at number three, Root.

He was not part of the victory four years ago, but now, the age of 36, has finally secured that place in the XI.

"I've wanted to be part of this team for so long," he said.

"It's been impossible to break into with the players that have been so good.

"So to get your opportunity and try and take it and enjoy it as long as it lasts, it's all I try and do."

Last week against New Zealand, he played and missed at his first two balls from seamer Matt Henry.

Against Bangladesh he did the same, this time against left-armer Mustafizur Rahman.

What ended in a stodgy 24-ball 14 against the Black Caps turned into a first World Cup century five days on.

There's that calmness again.

He continued to flick Mustafizur for the first of three boundaries - his innings packed with flowing strokes down the ground.

The only point Malan showed obvious emotion was when he reached three figures.

He was punching the air before moving three steps down the pitch to complete a single.

After doing so, he was embraced by Root - the man who had previously kept him out of the side.

Root himself batted supremely for his 82 as the pair shared a second-wicket stand of 151 in less than 20 overs.

It was his second fifty in as many games at the World Cup and took him beyond Graham Gooch as England's leading run-scorer in the tournament.

"He just never stops doing it, does he?" Malan said.

"He's just so consistent. He's got such a good method of doing it.

"Even today he came and he changed the gears at certain times.

"And when I wasn't hitting the ball as well for a little period, he took the initiative on and changed the momentum of the game as well."

The form of Root and Malan will be crucial in determining whether England can defend their title.

One has seen it all before while the other has had to fight for his chance.

But the latter now has a T20 international hundred, an Ashes ton and a World Cup century to his name.

Not bad for a man always under pressure...