England’s Dawid Malan admits his axeing by Hundred franchise Trent Rockets put him in a ‘pretty bad place’ as the batter eyes a World Cup spot

Dawid Malan has played down suggestions he is keeping Harry Brook out of England’s World Cup squad — and wants to push for a starting place when the tournament begins next month.

Malan, whose 42-ball 54 broke the back of England’s chase in the seven-wicket T20 thrashing of New Zealand in Durham on Wednesday, also hit out at his axeing by Trent Rockets during the Hundred.

‘I was disappointed with that,’ he said ahead of today’s second T20 in Manchester. ‘To get dropped after four games the day you get picked for England was hard to take.

‘That put me in a pretty bad place. The rest of the year I’ve been hitting the ball well and scoring runs everywhere, and suddenly I’m out of form, which is a load of nonsense, as I showed in Durham.’

Brook’s 27-ball 43 not out did nothing to silence those who believe he should be in England’s provisional 15-man World Cup squad, which can still be tweaked before September 28. But Malan said:

Dawid Malan made an important 54 for England on Wednesday as they beat New Zealand

He has now admitted to being ‘disappointed’ about his axeing from Hundred franchise Trent Rockets

Malan is keen to play for England at the World Cup later this year and said he ‘didn’t know’ where comparisons between him and Harry Brook came from

‘I know people compare me to Brooky, but I bat top three and he bats 4, 5, 6, so I don’t know where that comparison comes from.’

Malan, 35, wants to take the field for England’s tournament opener against New Zealand at Ahmedabad on October 5. ‘I’m picked to score runs and win games,’ he said. ‘I am not there to please anyone.

‘I might not be the favourite of the crowds, the fans, the commentators and the press, but all I can do is score runs when I get given the opportunity.

‘I don’t know who will get the nod at the top of the order but hopefully I can put pressure on the selectors to pick an XI and keep me in it.’