If the credit for South Africa's success in the modern era could be given to one player, that cricketer would be Allan Donald. He made his test debut on 18 April 1992 at the age of 26 against the West Indies in the one-off test tour to the West Indies at Barbados, a test match which also marked the historic occasion of being South Africa's first test in nearly 22 years since their readmission. The test match also marked South Africa's first-ever test match against a non-white nation as it was also their first test ever against the West Indies. On his debut, he scored a pair including a 21-ball duck in the first innings. However, he shined with the ball on his test debut picking up six wickets (2–67 and 4–77) for the match inclusive of a four-wicket haul in the second innings. He also picked up the prized wicket of Brian Lara. However, West Indies managed to win the one-off test by 52 runs to take the series 1–0.
Let's watch the Allan Donald's spell.
A classical action and top-drawer pace would have won him a place in any side in his prime, and for much of his career, he was the only world-class performer in the South African team, spearing the ball in, shaping it away, and always making things happen. Often nicknamed 'White Lightning' due to his quick bowling, he is considered one of the South African national cricket team's most successful pace bowlers. He was an integral member of the South African team in its resurgence into international cricket since readmission and played an influential role as a frontline genuine seam bowler to boost South Africa to new heights. During his playing career, he was known for his bowling speed and aggression on the field.
He is also remembered for his infamous runout during South Africa's loss in the 1999 World Cup semi-final match against Australia. Donald is the first South African to take 300 Test wickets. Donald was one of the top fast bowlers in Test cricket, reaching the top of the ICC Test rankings in 1998, peaking with a ranking of 895 points the next year. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he reached 794 points in 1998, ranked second behind teammate Shaun Pollock. If speed guns had been introduced in the early part of his career, his bowling speed would have been around 95 mph. Allan Donald's speed decreased due to multiple injuries, but his accuracy never let him down.
He shared the new ball with Pollock from the 1996-97 tour of India until his retirement in 2002. Allan Donald is known for his friendship with Pollock especially when they used to be regular bowling partners for South Africa. Donald described Pollock as South Africa's Glenn McGrath. He featured in four World Cup tournaments for South Africa in 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2003. Allan Donald played cricket, soccer, and rugby as a child and completed his primary education at the Technical High School.
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