Allan Anthony Donald is a retired South African cricketer. He was born in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State Province, South Africa, on 20 October 1966. It is widely considered that Allan is one of the most successful South African pace bowlers of all time.
In Test cricket, he was the first Proteas player to take 300 wickets with right-arm fast bowlers. Cricket fans and teammates nicknamed him The White Lightning because he used to come to the field with a circular white area of zinc cream across his cheeks and nose.
| Born: 20 October 1966 | Nationality: South-African |
| Years Active: (1991-2003) | Birth Place:Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa |
| Height: 6ft 4in | Role: Bowler |
| Batting Style: Right-Handed Bat | Bowling Style: Right-arm Fast |
| Nickname:White Lightning |
Allan Donald and his wife Tina Donald live in Durbin, South Africa. The wife of Allan Donald is an English woman who lived in Birmingham before they were married. They have a son named Oliver Donald and a daughter named Hannah Donald. Throughout his career, Allan had rough times with his family. He once left a series in England when coaching the South African cricket team.
When Allan was at school, he began playing cricket. During his match against his uncle's school, he took nine wickets and scored 16 runs, earning him a place on the Orange Free State team.
In his first domestic game, he played against Transvaal at the age of 19. Additionally, he represented Impalas Cricket Team. His first match for Worcestershire County Cricket Club was in 2002. He began playing for Warwickshire County Cricket Club in 1987.
Allan Donald made his international debut against India in an ODI in Kolkata on 10 November 1991. The Indian batting order was thrashed by him in his debut match when he took 5 wickets for 29 runs.
In the end, it was Sachin Tendulkar's 62 runs off 73 balls that turned the match around. Afterward, Donald and Sachin shared the Man of the Match award.
He played his first Test match against the West Indies in Barbados on April 18, 1992. Despite losing the match, he took two wickets for 67 runs in the first innings and four wickets for 77 runs in the second innings.
At the beginning of the 1990s and into the 2000s, Donald was the fastest bowler in the world. In the 1992 ICC World Cup, he bowled fearsome pace to take South Africa to the semi-finals. As a result of his performance in the tournament, he took 13 wickets at an average of 25.30 and with an economy of 4.21.
In the 1998 Trent Bridge test match between South Africa and England, South Africa made 374 runs. In response, England was bowled out for 336 by Allan, who picked up five wickets. In their second innings, England had 247 runs to chase. As the day wore on, Donald bowled several bouncers to Michael Atherton, but he survived several close opportunities to remain not out. According to Donald's biography, this was one of the most tense moments during his Test career.
At the 1999 Cricket World Cup, he took 16 wickets at an average of 20.31 and again led his team to the semi-finals.
During his short 12-year career, he did not experience such low points. In the history of bowling, he is considered one of the finest.
The only regret he had was not winning a World Cup for South Africa, because he thought his team was very good and played excellent cricket.
In Test cricket, Donald took 330 wickets at an average of 22.25, and in one-day Internationals; he took 272 wickets at an average of 21.78. Later, his records were ultimately surpassed by Shaun Pollock.
With 1,216 wickets in 316 games at an average of 22.76, Allan dominates domestic cricket statistics. A total of 684 wickets have been taken by him in List-A cricket as well.
Apart from all this, he has amazing records in his International career, such as
In 2003, Donald retired from international cricket after South Africa's exit from the ICC Cricket World Cup. Since he is knowledgeable about bowling, he has been hired as a bowling coach by several international teams such as England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, etc.
Donald, the first South African bowler to take 300 Test wickets, commands the respect of the public as well as his peers. His records are excellent, which we have already highlighted in this informative post. Here are his stats:-
| ODI | |
|---|---|
| Matches: 164 | Run Scored: 95 |
| Run Given: 5926 | |
| Bowling Average: 21.79 | Top Numbers: 6/23 |
| 10W/5W: 0/2 | Wickets: 272 |
| T20 | |
|---|---|
| Matches: 164 | Run Scored: 95 |
| Run Given: 5926 | |
| Bowling Average: 21.79 | Top Numbers: 6/23 |
| 10W/5W: 0/2 | Wickets: 272 |
| Test | |
|---|---|
| Matches: 72 | Run Scored: 652 |
| Run Given: 15519 | |
| Bowling Average: 22.25 | Top Numbers:12/139 |
| 10W/5W: 3/20 | Wickets: 330 |
Sachin Tendulkar of India fields during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Group B match between India and the Netherlands at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on March 9, 2011 in Delhi, India.
Sachin Tendulkar of India raises his bat on scoring his century during the Group B ICC World Cup Cricket match between India and South Africa at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground on March 12, 2011 in Nagpur, India.
Sachin Tendulkar of India hits out watched by wicketkeeper Matt Prior of England during day five of the 4th npower Test Match between England and India at The Kia Oval on August 22, 2011 in London, England.
Sachin Tendulkar reach the iconic landmark of 100 international centuries against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in 2012
Sachin's first Test century
Sachin Tendulkar’s dream to hold the World Cup in his hands and in 2011 it finally happened.
