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| April 2, 2006 | Sunday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 3, 1427 |
No quick fix for SA cricket, says Donald
DURBAN, April 1: Former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald says South African cricket should not seek quick fixes, but rather put together a long-term programme to get the Proteas on par with Australia.
He described the lack of bowling depth as one of the biggest shortcomings in South African cricket.
Donald, who took 330 Test wickets for the Proteas, is employed by Cricket South Africa.
He is involved in the prestige programme preparing bowlers to play at Test level. He asked cricket supporters to be patient.
Donald said: “If I want to be honest, I have to say that we really have problems. If one of the Test bowlers should pull a hamstring now, we really don’t have anybody to replace him.
“We have a whole batch of young, promising bowlers, but I don’t think they’re ready to play Test cricket, especially not against Australia.
“The problem will also not be resolved in a year or two.
“I think Mickey (Arthur, Proteas coach) and Graeme (Smith, captain), have to tell the South African public that it’s going to be a long process and that we’re going to lose a Test now and then to perform better at a later stage.
“Now and again you’ll have to select some players so that they can gain experience.”
One of the big differences between the Aussies and the Proteas on this tour has been the Aussies’ ability to get wickets.
“The Proteas have battled to bowl out the Aussies in the Tests and if you cannot take 20 wickets in a Test, you cannot win,” Donald noted.
“People regularly ask me when are we going to get our own Brett Lee, but it is not that easy. You need experience.
“A player like Dale Steyn is a good example. He’s still very young and when you talk to him, he can’t tell you how the ball leaves his hand or what he’s got to do to bowl an away-spinner at 145km/h.”
Donald added that Steyn should bowl in as many first class matches as possible so that he learn more about his own game.
“It is by repetition that you learn this game,” the former fast bowler said.
He said his own career was an example of where things were going wrong at present. He made his Test debut at the age of 25 after South Africa’s isolation period. Before he played Test cricket, he also had a few seasons in county cricket in England.
“If I had made my Test debut at the age of 21, I wouldn’t have been the same bowler.
“I had time to learn about, and I knew my game, before I entered the Test arena,” Donald explained.—Agencies
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