Allan Anthony Donald

Allan Anthony Donald , (born October 20 , 1966 , Bloemfontein) was one of South Africa’s best ever cricketers , specifically one of their finest bowlers. He made his Test debut on 18 April 1992 alongside fellow debutante Hansie Cronje , losing to the West Indies in Barbados by 52 runs , but taking 2-67 and 4-77 (including Brian Lara for 64). His final Test started on 22 February 2002 against Australia at New Wanderers Stadium , Johannesburg. It was a disastrous result , South Africa losing to Australia by an innings and 360 runs , Donald taking only 1 wicket for 77 runs.

Known as ‘white lightning’ , he is remembered as a fearsome fast bowler , scowling and aggressive , with a famous horizontal white line of sunscreen across his cheeks and nose. He finished his career as South Africa’s record wicket-taker with 330 Test wickets at an average of 22.25 , and claimed 272 one-day international wickets at an average of 21.78.

In the 1992 cricket World Cup opening game for South Africa , umpire Brian Aldridge from New Zealand gave Geoff Marsh not out on the first ball of the match bowled by Allan Donald , after he edged the ball to wicket-keeper Dave Richardson.

In 1997 he came under intense scrutiny by the international cricket media after he used racially abusive language against India’s Rahul Dravid in the finals of a triseries.

In the 1999 cricket World Cup he , with Lance Klusener , were the final batsmen in a historic semi-final against Australia , which ended in a tie , denying them the opportunity to play Pakistan in the final.

Now retired from international cricket , he still captains his provincial team Free State and works as a commentator for the BBC (Test Match Special , TMS).