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England's Dawid Malan has gone from thinking his Test career may be over to joining Joe Root in an Ashes fightback at the Gabba and he's loving it.
England batsman Dawid Malan didn't believe he'd get another shot at Test cricket - let alone play a key role in helping lead an Ashes fightback against Australia at the Gabba.
A devastating and vital Twenty20 player for England, the left-hander has had a largely mediocre journey across his 18-Test career, averaging around 30 with just eight 50s and one hundred in that time.
That century was on his previous Ashes tour in Perth, making 140 at the WACA as he enjoyed a productive tour despite England being thumped 4-0 in the series.
So it was no wonder Malan was taking in every moment on Thursday as he and captain Joe Root put together an unbeaten 159-run stand as England surged back into the contest in the first Test.
"I thought I would never play another Test again," Malan said.
"I actually said to Rooty when we were on 40 or 50 - we're both similar scores - the Barmy Army was singing and what have you and I said to him, 'God, I've really missed this'.
"I've missed someone trying to blow my head off all the time and then the crowd going and your adrenaline going and playing against the best bowlers going around.
"Test cricket is the pinnacle so to be able to stand out here wearing an England shirt - so proud to do that - and especially to do it here at the Gabba in front of everyone.
"It's good fun. It's really good fun."
Malan will resume on day four unbeaten on 80 with Root on 86 not out as he chases a first Test hundred in Australia.
With 58 runs still needed to put England ahead in the match, the 34-year-old said he was only too aware his good day will mean little if he and his captain can't continue their comeback on Saturday.
"We hold our hands up that we weren't good enough in that first innings," he said.
"Whether the wicket did a little bit or not, we're better than being bowled out for 140.
"So for us to come in after sort of a day and a half of hard fielding and to do what we did here today was fantastic.
"But that's only half the job done. We need another 250-300 runs tomorrow to put ourselves in a good position."
