Dawid Malan has opened up on his relationship with Eoin Morgan, explaining what followed the England captain’s public criticism of him in failing to take a last-ball bye against New Zealand in 2019.

Now the No.1-ranked T20I batsman in the world, Malan hit an unbeaten century against New Zealand in Napier in November last year but was later criticised by Morgan – who he shared a 182-run partnership with – for failing to run a bye from the last ball of the innings.

“If we get guys that are not running off the last ball of the game because they want to get a not out, there’s something to address,” Morgan said.

Malan previously explained to Wisden Cricket Monthly that he was unaware it was the last ball of the innings, believing there to be another over left.

“I was so focused that I didn’t even know that was the last ball,” Malan said in the May issue of the magazine. “I’d asked Tim Southee if I could get some fresh gloves the ball before and he gave me the filthiest of looks, thinking that I was ‘giving it massive’. I think the only mistake I made was not having the game awareness to realise it was the last ball. I thought there was another over left, so I take the criticism for that.”

In an interview with the Guardian, Malan has revealed what Morgan said to him afterwards. “I didn’t know Morgs had an issue until the next day,” said the Yorkshire left-hander. “He told me: ‘This team takes every run – look at how close the World Cup final was, make sure you push next time.’ I accepted I’d messed up.

“Morgs told me some comments from him may appear in the press and before the next game I read them, they came across a bit differently, so I approached him for another chat and to apologise again.”

The incident has led to speculation regarding Malan’s relationship with Morgan, who he was long-time teammates with at Middlesex before the former moved to Headingley in 2019.

“I always play for the team and in this setup, you won’t last long if you don’t,” Malan added in the Guardian interview. “It’s a non-negotiable. We’ve drawn a line under it and moved forward. It does make me laugh though, the talk I’ve not been picked more because Morgs doesn’t like me. It’s amazing what gets fabricated. We’ve not raised our voices to each other in 14 years, yet suddenly we hate each other. It’s not something I’m aware of and Morgs is the type of captain who would tell you directly if there was an issue.”