BRING IT ON! That's Dawid Malan's message to any county bowler planning to subject him to a barrage of bouncers this year, writes Jon Batham.

The left-hander made a reputation for himself last year as a classic driver of the ball, and ruthless on anything pitched up.

These qualities were seen most notably during his stunning 54-ball century to win the Twenty20 quarter final against Lancashire at the Brit Oval last July - an innings which included six sixes and 10 fours.

The 21-year-old also showed he had the talent to make it in the County Championship with a century on his debut against Northamptonshire at Uxbridge - only the fifth player ever to do so for the county.

Not surprisingly, there is speculation among those in the game that Malan is in line for more than the odd bouncer this season to rough him up and restrict his free-scoring style.

However, the batsman is confident he'll deal with whatever comes his way.

He said: "People said the same about Phillip Hughes - that people should bowl short to him - and he's just got two 100s on the trot against the South Africans, who are perhaps the best bowling side in the world.

"As soon as people think they've worked you out they come to realise that a batsman can always be one step ahead."

Malan was certainly in fine nick in the Pro-Arch trophy in the UAE this week, helping Middlesex into the final.

He begun by making 93 in 79 balls with 11 fours as the hosts were beaten by 110 runs, and followed that up with 47 as the newly-named Panthers chased down a target of 284 to beat Yorkshire with a ball to spare.

However, he was upstaged in both games by top-ranked oneday player Tyron Henderson, who smashed 75 off just 34 balls against the UAE and 77 off 41 deliveries against the Tykes.

Both players sat out the third win of the group stages - a two-wicket success over arch-rivals Surrey.Henderson missed yesterday's final against Essex after returning to South Africa to prepare for the Indian Premier League.