News Sports Cricket England's Dawid Malan roped in as cover for Tom Curran for 1st T20 against India

England's Dawid Malan roped in as cover for Tom Curran for 1st T20 against India

Curran, who suffered a minor side strain, is expected to be fit for the second and third T20I at Cardiff and Bristol respectively.

India tour of ENgland 2018 Image Source : GETTY IMAGESA file image of Dawid Malan

Left-handed batsman Dawid Malan might get a chance to play in the first T20 international against India at Old Trafford on Tuesday after he was called up as a cover for seamer Tom Curran in the England squad for their three-match series.

Curran, who suffered a minor side strain, is expected to be fit for the second and third T20I at Cardiff and Bristol respectively.

The 30-year-old Malan, who made his debut with a 44-ball 78 against South Africa, has played five T20s for England, scoring 250 runs at a rate of 150.6 runs per 100 balls.

"I got a message from (national selector) Ed Smith saying I had been called up for one game," said Malan.

"I'm just delighted to be part of the squad. (T20) gave me a great opportunity to show what I could do as a player and express myself. It's nice to be in and around it again and back around the England boys and hopefully, I get an opportunity." 

England will also play three ODIs against India before the five-Test series.

India defeated Ireland 2-0 in a T20 series in the run-up to the England series.