Every time Allan Donald ran to bowl, it appeared that the stumps would be uprooted. His was a bowling action that the kids all over the world copied. His was the pace at which everyone wanted to bowl with. Donald possessed everything that a fast-bowler needed to have – pace, precision and ability to take wickets.
Donald was born on July 16 in 1973 in Port Elizabeth.
The ‘White Lightning’ as he was famously called, Donald made his debut for South Africa in Kolkata in 1991 against India in an ODI. It was the kind for start to an international career that anybody would die for as a bowler. Donald took 5 for 29 in that match, destroying the Indian batting line-up. This performance was just the sign of the things to come.
Donald was famous for putting zinc cream across his face. It was something which became his signature style. As if his fierce pace was not enough, this look gave an intimidating feature to his already intimidating nature as a thundering fast bowler.
The stories etched in memories of his fans are that of his fiery spell to Michael Atherton at Trent Bridge and the one where he threw many tantrums and remarks on Rahul Dravid in the 1996 tri-nation series where his eyes did all the talking. There was also one where he made a newbie that time, Michael Hussey’s life miserable.
It was always believed that Donald was over bowled and that became a reason of his retirement in 2003. But by them Donald had become a legend in world cricket with 330 and 272 wickets in both Tests and ODIs respectively.
