NEWS
Follow UsNo. 1 ranked T20 International (T20I) batsman Dawid Malan has been roped in by Hobart Hurricanes for the tenth season of Big Bash League (BBL). The England batsman made his interest of joining the league known during Australia’s tour of England earlier this year.
"The BBL is something in the (English) winter you really like to watch, it's a very good product and it's something I've really wanted to be a part of for a very long time," Malan said in September according to Cricket.com.au.
"As a player, you want to play all over the world and in different leagues. It's the only way to improve and learn different conditions.
"It'll be a great learning opportunity for me to go out there, especially with the Twenty20 World Cup (in Australia) in two years’ time.
"If I can get some good experience in the Big Bash, I think that can only help."
It is still unclear whether Malan will be part of the team for the entire tournament, given that England could play be limited-overs series against South Africa in November and in Pakistan, which are yet to be confirmed.
The Hurricanes’ head coach Andy Griffith has spent some time with Malan during his stint with Middlesex and is very excited to have him join the team.
"I'm very excited to have someone of Dawid's talent and experience join the team," said Griffith.
"He is a proven performer at T20 cricket on the international stage and I’m looking forward to seeing him hopefully replicate that for the Hurricanes."
In his 16 T20Is for England, the England batsman has scored 682 runs at 48.71, which includes a century and seven fifties. He has also played 15 Tests and an ODI for his national side. Malan has 877 rating points that sees him sit at the summit of the ICC T20I rankings for batsmen, ahead of some big hitters like Babar Azam, Aaron Finch and KL Rahul.
Hobart kick-start their BBL 2020-21 campaign on December 4 against Sydney Sixers at the SCG.