We must match Aussies' aggression: Malan

Dawid Malan is calling on England to take the attack to Australia as they set out to salvage something from a miserable Ashes tour.

Malan is England's top run-scorer and heads their averages too, with 302 at 50.33, but he insists he could and should have done better to stop England losing the Magellan Ashes before Christmas.

They have arrived in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test already 3-0 down, with the urn gone south again.

Malan advises England must meet Australia head on to see if they crack under the pressure - as Joe Root's team have done so far.

"I personally believe we need to be as aggressive with these guys as they are with us," he said.

"If you ever take your foot off the gas with these blokes, they seem to really, really dominate.

"It showed at Adelaide when we were aggressive to them under lights in their second innings - we attacked them, and they fell away just as we did at certain times."

Malan is not advocating outrageous sledging, just a can-do attitude and cricket on the front foot - sustained for the rest of the series.

"It doesn't mean you have to chirp," he said.

"It doesn't mean you have to get in people's faces, but ... be positive in everything and don't take your foot off and let them get into the game."

Malan discovered to his and England's cost that it is also critical they do not give Australia even a half-chance to battle back mid-match - as Steve Smith's men have done so effectively.

Most recently in Perth, the tourists were 4-368 as Malan and his fellow first-innings centurion Jonny Bairstow piled up a record fifth-wicket partnership.

But once the left-hander went, six wickets fell for 35 - and England were soon a spent force as Smith hit a double-century and Mitch Marsh 181.

"One little mistake out here, and these guys seem to pounce on it," added Malan.

"You have to be mentally strong.

"It is a tough place, but it is as tough as you make it.

"If you put it in on a pedestal and you aren't willing to take these guys on, they seem to jump on top of you."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test Australia won by an innings and 41 runs. Scorecard

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21