England rookie prepared for hostile Ashes crowds if selected in England's middle-order
Malan ready for Ashes verbal barrage
As an Englishman with South African pedigree, Dawid Malan knows what's coming.
Crowd abuse and sledging.
"It's the whole challenge of an Ashes series," he told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.
"I'm actually looking forward to seeing what I get called, what sort of lines they have. They do say most of the lines are funny.
"I think you probably get the odd guy that crosses the line a few times. You've got to learn to deal with that."
Malan, a 30-year-old middle order batsman who has played five Tests, was born in London.
Aged seven, he moved to South Africa with his family.
Eleven years later, he returned for a stint of coaching at Northamptonshire expecting to return to South Africa but never did.
"I was born in England, I have lived in England for 19 years of my life. I'm as English as they come," Malan said.
"If people want to give me stick about my old man moving to South Africa and taking me when I was seven, then so be it - I didn't really have a choice.
"I probably will never move back to South Africa, as much as I enjoy the country and as good as the country has been to me.
"England is my home and that is where I see my future."
Malan had all but given up hope of Test cricket when summoned for his debut last July - ironically, against South Africa.
The prospect of playing an Ashes Test hadn't crossed his mind.
"I never imagined I would be playing one," he said. "Even if someone had said to me last year you would be playing in an Ashes, I would have probably laughed at them."
Now in Australia for the five-Test series starting on November 23, Malan has re-set his sights.
"You don't want to be a casualty, you want to ... play all five Tests, that is the goal," he said.
"For me personally, every Test series is about scoring runs and about scoring as many runs as you can - it's your career, it's your future."
2017-18 International Fixtures:
Magellan Ashes Series
First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets
Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets
Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets
Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets
Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets
Gillette ODI Series v England
First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets
Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets
Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets
Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets
Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF
Prime Minister's XI
PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets
Gillette T20 INTL Series
First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets
Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets
Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets
Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13
Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16
Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18
Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21