VSDCA: English top-order bat Dawid Malan links with Endeavour Hills

A host of household names have linked with the Eagles this off-season, and the latest inclusion is no exception. Latest here.

YET another international cricket star has linked with Endeavour Hills.

The VSDCA club has confirmed current English top-order bat Dawid Malan is set to feature for an upcoming twilight T20 competition.

Malan made his Test debut in 2017 taking in a maiden century, and has since featured on 22 occasions for more than 1000 runs.

Dawid Malan of England bats during day three of the Fifth Test in the Ashes series between Australia and England at Blundstone Arena on January 16, 2022. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

He’s just one of four English cricketers to score a T20 international ton, and holds the world record for highest second-wicket stand in T20 internationals alongside Jos Buttler.

The 34-year-old’s inclusion follows a recent signing spree.

The Eagles have netted current Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne, Test batsman Lahiru Thirimanne and paceman Suranga Lakmal, West Indies under-19 fast bowler Matthew Forde, veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik, West Indian paceman Fidel Edwards and former Indian first-class player Akshay Ballal.

And if that wasn’t enough, they also landed West Indian champion batsman Chris Gayle, who has agreed to two appearances in the VSDCA’s T20 competition alongside Malik.

Karunaratne is considered one of the best openers in the world, having knocked more than 5,700 Test runs across 78 appearances.

Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne plays a shot. Photo by Munir uz ZAMAN/AFP

Long-time committee member Paul Kirchner said a link with agency and club sponsor Global Talent Entertainment opened the dialogue with the stars, and Malan’s signing was no different.

He said the phones had run hot with incoming and outgoing calls from Australian BBL players and international talent alike.

“We’ve been talking to a number of players for a while now, and it’s kind of been a bit of a chain reaction – as we sign one, another one will contact us,” Kirchner said.

“It’s changed the dynamic.”

Malan is slated to play in a club-organised T20 competition later this year, but will not take part in the season proper.

Kirchner confirmed Karunaratne will feature in “a few games here and there” in the 2022-23 season, alongside former Sri Lankan champion and club captain Tillakaratne Dilshan who has committed full-time. Lahiru Thirimanne will also be playing.

Others are earmarked to play the club-organised and association-run T20 competitions.

The Eagles envision to run their carnival in the back-end of November with a community focus – and there could be some tough opposition on the way.

“What we’re trying to do is really give back to the community,” Kirchner said.

“We’re trying to put a T20 carnival on over a week at the club so we can showcase these players, have more of a community touch and change the dynamic of that type of cricket from the Big Bash and going to the MCG so to speak.

“We’re currently in discussions with some pretty serious teams to play against us and we’re talking to some BBL teams, state teams, but it’s all in negotiations at the moment.”

Kirchner said the club “had more juniors lining up than anything”, with its gun internationals posing a major drawcard at training sessions.

“The biggest thing for us is to promote Endeavour Hills cricket and promote community sport … but also to try and bring us back to strengthening numbers that we’ve probably lost in previous years through juniors,” he said.

The Eagles have had no notable omissions this off-season according to Kirchner, following a semi-final berth in the VSDCA’s North-East group in 2021-22 where the First XI finished second.