INTERNATIONAL STARS OF BETWAY SA20 | DAWID MALAN

Born in Roehampton, but raised in Paarl, Malan will return to a country he knows very well this summer for Betway SA20 Season 2.

Malan arrives at Sunrisers Eastern Cape with a serious reputation as one of the leading white-ball batters in the world. A former World No 1 T20 batter, Malan has been a prolific run-scorer since his T20I debut back in 2017 against South Africa in Cardiff where he struck 78 off just 44 balls, including a second ball six off Chris Morris.

Unlike many of his England contemporaries, the classy left-hander is more an accumulator than a blaster. But that doesn’t mean he gives away anything in terms of a strike-rate as he still clicks over at 132.49 in T20Is.

He is certainly adept at finding the boundary when it's required, on the carpet through the off-side, and also aerially over the square-leg boundary.

Malan’s premier attribute is his consistency. Often without anyone even noticing, Malan moves through the gears like he did at the recent 50-overs ICC World Cup in India.

Despite the defending champions enduring a horrid campaign, Malan rose above the overall team failures to finish as England’s leading run-scorer with 400 runs at an average of 44.88. England’s next best was Ben Stokes with 304.

Sunrisers coach Adi Birrell has no doubt brought Malan to St George’s Park to bring some stability to the defending champions’ top-order. Although opener Adam Rossington proved to be a hit in Season 1, ultimately striking a match-winning half-century in the final against Pretoria Capitals, it was a high-risk strategy that may not be replicated in Season 2.

Equally, the Sunrisers never settled on an opening partner for Rossington with all of Temba Bavuma, Jordan Hermann, Sarel Erwee and the now-departed Jon-Jon Smuts all having a go at one stage.

Malan’s experience in constructing a T20 innings will go a long way in alleviating that problem.

Sunrisers fans will get an early opportunity to watch their new signing in action against the Joburg Super Kings in the tournament opener on Wednesday, 10 January.