again
Tony Harrison CRICKET
Allan Donald, arguably the fastest white bowler in the world, can’t wait to get back to action for his English county side Warwickshire.
The South African pace ace is recovering from an accident at Hove when he fell backwards on to an advertising board while attempting to make a catch off another of the world’s great cricketers, Shane Warne.
The bad news for Warwickshire’s county championship opponents is that Donald will be back soon and looking to make up for lost time.
But for a world-class cricketer who thrives on the game, the month since he broke two ribs in that incident has been a nightmare. “I have been away to Spain for six days to get away – there’s nothing else I can do really as there’s no treatment for the injury and it’s just a matter of time and rest.
“I have been training for the past two weeks and I’m now starting to feel fresh and really good. But there’s no point coming back before I’m ready and I’ll be having another X-ray soon to see how the injury has healed.”
Donald obviously misses the involvement on the field, and added: “I think it’s important that you don’t stay away from the ground and that you’re in the dressing room and you know what’s going on.
“I think the players appreciate that and I try and help in any way I can, be it going out with the drinks or offering advice.”
Without their main strike bowler and for most of the time the England pairing of Nick Knight and Ed Giddins, Warwickshire have been doing exceptionally well, having not lost a county championship or national league game this season.
“It’s nice to see the guys performing without myself, Ed and Nick, which is great. Bob Woolmer has brought to the club a new injection of pace, new urgency and self-belief and that’s what we’re seeing from the youngsters at the moment.
“Mohammed Sheikh, Michael Powell and Charlie Dagnall have all come in and done exceptionally well.”
Donald always held a dream to play in the English county championship and got the chance when asked to come over for a trial by then Warwickshire manager David Brown. “My grandfather used to subscribe to the Cricketer and the Wisden since way back and I would look at the pictures of the grounds and always wanted to play over here in England.
“I had a lucky break when David Brown was in South Africa during the centenary of Eastern Province cricket, and asked me if I wanted to come across in 1987. I came across and have never looked back since.
“I’ve had a few lucky escapes having been chosen ahead of other overseas players – Tony Merrick, Tom Moody and Brian Lara – and I was lucky enough to stay on at the club.
“I don’t know how I would have turned out playing with another club and the club has been very good to me, as have the supporters.”
One could never write an article without mentioning Donald’s Test career, a career that has seen him star in the South African line-up 62 times.
But what were the high and lows of his Test career to date? “The highlights must have been beating Australia in Sydney in 1994 when we won by five runs, probably the best Test match I have ever played in.
‘And beating India 2-0 this year in their own backyard. A lot of people don’t realise how hard it is to play there and it’s a hell of an experience that you have to be mentally geared up for. The lowest point was obviously the World Cup semifinal defeat against Australia and that incident still flashes through my mind now and then.”
The incident that Donald is referring to was of course the run-out mix-up between himself and Lance Klusener when, with the scores tied on 213, Donald was run out with two balls remaining, to see the Australians into the final which they won against Pakistan.
But Donald can’t wait until 2003 World Cup in South Africa to try and set the record straight. “I’ve just accepted another two-year contract with the United Cricket Board of South Africa and set my goals out for 2003. I’m also looking forward to the next Test series, which starts in November against New Zealand.
“The first Test is in Bloemfontein and I’m three wickets away from the 300 mark – so it would be nice to get them in my home town and it would be a very special moment.”
One thing is certain: with a man of Donald’s class and determination bursting to get back in action, plus Warwickshire’s fine start to the season, there’s only one place they are heading – back to the top flight where they belong.
ENDS