As enticing as it was to come up with a pun involving 'lightning' for my profile blog about Allan Donald the former South African fast bowler I thought you and I deserve a little better. Although John Kerry once said that the cliche is waiting in the keyboard to pass through the fingertips, travel up the arm, into the brain and be dumped on the page. I did think of saying something like 'will lightning strike twice?' but decided on the above title after considering a different question: is it wise to employ a key player from the worst chokers in ODI cricket, and World cups in particular, to act as bowling coach for another world cup choker (NZ) for the duration of a world cup? Well I would say that Donald's record might lead you to either extreme answer to that question
South Africa's White Lightning played 72 tests for his country between 1992 and 2002, taking 330 wickets @ 22.25 (strike rate a healthy 47) with 20 5-wicket-hauls and 3 10-wicket-matches. Highlights include:
- Leading SA to victories at Lords in 1994 (5-74&2-29) and 1998 (5-32)
- 8-71 against Zimbabwe - his best innings figures
- 80 wickets in 1998 - including 33 in England
- Averaged just 16.8 per wicket in victories
More than these figures, Donald was his country's first world-class cricketer post-apartheid and his performances are found throughout South Africa's notable victories during the 1990s as they reestablished themselves on the world stage. However, just like many of his team mates, his performances against Australia were poor and contributed to his team's below-average performances against them. It wasn't just the 1999 runout that produced the 'choker' label for SA (that runout was of Donald as it happens) but the feeling that their best was for when it didn't matter. So would such a mentality transfer through to whichever team he was coaching?
I'm not so sure about that, Donald took up commentary after his international career was over (he retired during the thrashing by Australia in 2002) and eventually took up a coaching role with England in 2007. While only a temporary contract he quickly became popular and respected for his work with that team. He decided not to extend that role due to family reasons but did take up a similar role for his former county team Warwickshire in 2008 - helping them to notable success in the second division.
My opinion is that if he can instill the kind of hostility he possessed as a bowler in those he coaches that would be enough - certainly in the Black Caps - and if he can teach bowlers to perform like the below clip then all the better:
Or this clip - considered to be one of the fiersest spells in modern cricket
NEWS
- The rotation policy being used by the NZ selectors is said to not be agreeable with either Vettori or John Wright and has come under criticism by commentators across the land for producing small crowds and an inconsistent showing from the players themselves. I don't think it's fair to blame this policy for their performance - maybe if they had won some of those 11 games that they didn't win... However I don't like the policy because of the poor performance it will produce in the World Cup if a solid 11 is not used BEFORE then (not starting with the first group match)
RECENT RESULTS
- NZ have slipped to 1-2 against PAK after a classic match in Napier. I was equally impressed with the death bowling during the last 15 overs of this match from the Black Caps and Vettori's captaincy that was notable for clever bowling rotation and clear planning of how to apply pressure; this ability to scrap will be needed to win key matches in the future and it's good to see it appearing in this young team
- AUS took an unbeatable lead in their 7 (sigh) ODI series against England but does anybody care? Apparently Matt Prior cares enough to cheat by taking the bails off with his gloves before appealing for BOWLED (ala Brad Haddin although far less accidental)
LOOKING BACK
February 1st - this week marked the 30th anniversary of the underarm ball when Greg Chappell instructed his younger brother to bowl along the ground to prevent New Zealand from getting a 6 off the last ball to TIE the match in question. Some say it's time to forgive this outrage but I argue that this would only be possible if Australia would stop crossing the same line (although less severely) since then
SLEDGE OF THE WEEK
On his first tour to Australia, Michael Atherton was given a lucky reprieve when not-out was called on a caught behind appeal. At the end of the day, Ian Healy walked passed the lucky batsman and had a few words:
'You're a fucking cheat."
To which Atherton simply replied:
"When in Rome, dear boy."
Well that's it from here and I hope you join me again
It's good bye for now
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