Allan Donald

Known as the “White Lightning” Allan Donald is one of the legendary South Africa cricketer, and now being a formidable coach for several national and IPL team. Here is the story of Donald’s cricket career.

Allan Donald: The “White Lightning” of the Proteas’ Cricket History

Allan Donald, a former South African cricketer, is widely recognized as one of the most successful pace bowlers in the history of South African cricket.

His career, spanning from the early 1990s to the early 2000s, is marked by significant achievements and contributions to the game.

Early Career

Donald’s journey in cricket began in his hometown of Bloemfontein, South Africa. He showed early promise as a fast bowler, making his first-class debut in 1985 for Orange Free State.

His early career was not without challenges, as he faced injuries that temporarily hindered his progress. However, his talent and determination soon led to recognition at the domestic level.

Domestic Career

Donald’s domestic career was marked by his long association with Warwickshire County Cricket Club in England, starting in 1987.

He played a pivotal role in the club’s successes, including their victories in the 1989 NatWest Bank Trophy and the 1995 County Championship.

His performance in the 1995 season was particularly noteworthy, as he was the joint highest wicket-taker in the NatWest Trophy.

Donald’s stint with Warwickshire ended in 2000, and he later joined Worcestershire for the 2002 season. He also made his T20 debut in 2004 for the Eagles.

International Career

Donald’s international debut was a significant moment in South African cricket history. He played his first ODI against India in 1991, marking South Africa’s return to international cricket after the apartheid ban.

His Test debut came in 1992 against the West Indies. Donald quickly established himself as a leading fast bowler, known for his speed and aggression.

He was a key player in South Africa’s squad in four World Cup tournaments (1992, 1996, 1999, and 2003).

His performance in the 1992 World Cup was particularly notable, as he was the leading wicket-taker for South Africa.

Career Across Formats

Test Cricket

Donald’s impact in Test cricket was immense. He was the first South African to reach 300 Test wickets, finishing with a total of 330 wickets from 72 matches, at an average of 22.25.

His best bowling figures in an innings were 8/71. Remarkably, he maintained an impressive economy rate of 2.83 and a strike rate of 47.00.

ODI Cricket

In One Day Internationals, Donald was a force to be reckoned with. He achieved 272 wickets in 164 matches, with a best performance of 6/23.

His average and economy rate in ODIs were 21.78 and 4.15, respectively. Interestingly, he was the first South African to take a fifer on ODI debut and also the first South African to take a five-wicket haul in ODI history.

His ODI debut against India in 1991 was memorable, where he took 5 wickets for 29 runs.

T20 Cricket

Although T20 cricket was not as prominent during Donald’s era, he made a brief appearance in this format in 2004 for the Eagles (the Free State Eagles), a South African cricket team based in Bloemfontein, which was part of the domestic T20 competition in South Africa.

Post Retirement

After retiring from all forms of cricket in 2004, Donald transitioned into coaching and commentary.

He served as a bowling coach for several international teams, including South Africa, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. His expertise and experience have been highly valued, also makes him as a coach for Pune Warriors from the prestigious IPL.

As of 2023, he was associated with the Bangladesh cricket team as a fast-bowling coach but announced his departure following the World Cup.

A Cricket Records by Allan Donald

Allan Donald, a legendary figure in South African cricket, has left an indelible mark in the annals of cricket history with his remarkable records.

His career, spanning from 1991 to 2003, is a testament to his prowess as a fast bowler. Here’s a detailed look at some of his significant records:

Top Records

Test Matches:

– Pair on debut: Donald is the 4th player in Test matches to achieve this.
– Most wickets in a calendar year: He stands 4th with 80 wickets in a year.
– Worst economy rate in an innings: Ranked 5th with an economy rate of 8.00.
– Most wickets taken caught by a wicketkeeper: 7th with 100 wickets.
– Fastest to 250 wickets: Achieved this milestone in just 50 matches, ranking 4th.

One-Day Internationals (ODIs):

– Best figures in a innings on debut: 3rd with a 5-wicket haul.
– Most wickets taken caught by a wicket keeper: 8th with 63 wickets.
– Fastest to 250 wickets: 3rd fastest, achieving this in 148 matches.
– Most wickets in a calendar year: 9th with 107 wickets across formats.

Test Records:

– Most ducks in career: 43rd with 17 ducks.
– Most wickets in career: 28th with 330 wickets.
– Best career bowling average: 39th with an average of 22.25.
– Most five-wickets-in-an-innings in a career: 23rd with 20 hauls.
– Oldest player to take ten-wickets-in-a-match: At 33 years and 36 days, he ranks 47th.

ODI Records:

– Most wickets in career: 20th with 272 wickets.
– Best career bowling average: 20th with an average of 21.78.
– Most four-wickets-in-an-innings in a career: 14th with 13 instances.
– Fastest to 100 wickets: 31st, achieving this in 64 matches.

Combined Test, ODI, and T20I Records:

– Most wickets in career: 24th with 602 wickets.
– Most wickets taken caught by a wicketkeeper: 9th with 163 wickets.

Other Notable Records:

• Most player-of-the-match awards in Tests: 43rd with 8 awards.
• Most player-of-the-series awards in Tests: 26th with 4 awards.
• Fastest to various wickets milestones: Consistently ranked among the top for reaching 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 wickets in the shortest number of matches.

Allan Donald: A Glimpse into the Family Life of a Cricket Legend

Allan Donald, renowned as one of the greatest fast bowlers in Test cricket, has not only made a mark in the world of sports but also leads a fulfilling family life. Here’s a comprehensive look at his family background:

Early Life and Family Roots

Allan Donald was born on October 20, 1966, in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Growing up in an Afrikaans-speaking family.

Donald’s native language is Afrikaans, although he speaks English with an accent influenced by his long stay in England. His early life in Bloemfontein laid the foundation for his illustrious cricket career.

Marital Life and Children

Allan Donald is married to Tina Donald, an English woman from Birmingham. The couple’s union has been blessed with two children – a daughter, Hannah Donald, and a son, Oliver Donald.

The family holds a special place in Donald’s life, influencing his decision to coach cricket in South Africa to stay close to them.

Allan Donald: An Insight into His Financial Fortunes

Allan Donald, a former South African cricketer and current bowling coach, has amassed significant wealth over his career.

Known for his lightning-fast bowling, Donald has not only made a name for himself on the cricket field but also in the financial arena.

Here’s a comprehensive look at his net worth, including earnings, endorsements, assets, and other financial details.

Net Worth and Earnings

Allan Donald’s net worth is estimated to be around $5 million as of 2023. This wealth has been accumulated through his successful career as a cricketer and later as a coach.

His primary source of income was his salary from the South African cricket team, and he continues to earn a substantial amount as a bowling coach, currently for the Bangladesh national cricket team.

Contractual Agreements

Donald’s contract with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been a significant contributor to his income.

Initially contracted until the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, the BCB extended his contract until the 2023 ODI World Cup. This extension reflects the value and trust placed in Donald’s coaching abilities.

4 Controversy Involving Allan Donald

Allan Donald, a former South African cricketer and renowned fast bowler, has been involved in several controversies over the years. Here’s a comprehensive look at these incidents, arranged from the most recent:

1. Angelo Mathews Timed-Out Dismissal (2023)

In 2023, Allan Donald, serving as the Bangladesh fast-bowling coach, expressed his displeasure over an incident involving Sri Lanka cricketer Angelo Mathews.

Mathews was controversially dismissed for being timed-out in a World Cup match against Bangladesh.

Donald criticized the decision, stating that he didn’t like such incidents in the game and emphasized the importance of respect and dignity in cricket.

2. Public Apology to Rahul Dravid (2022)

In December 2022, Donald, as the bowling coach of Bangladesh, publicly apologized to India’s head coach Rahul Dravid for his ‘ugly’ behavior during an India vs South Africa ODI in Durban in 1997.

Donald had overstepped the mark while sledging Dravid, who was batting aggressively against the South African pace attack.

Donald expressed regret for his actions and extended an invitation to Dravid for dinner as a gesture of reconciliation.

3. Yorkshire Coaching Role Consideration (2022)

In January 2022, Donald was considered for a coaching role in the new set-up at Yorkshire.

This came after the mass sacking of the coaching staff the previous month in the wake of Azeem Rafiq’s complaints of racism at the club.

Donald’s potential involvement was seen as part of the efforts to rebuild the coaching unit at Yorkshire.

4. Hansie Cronje’s Match-Fixing Scandal (2002)

In 2002, Donald was indirectly associated with the match-fixing scandal involving former South African captain Hansie Cronje.

While Donald was not implicated in the scandal, the incident cast a shadow over South African cricket.

Cronje’s involvement in match-fixing and his subsequent downfall was a significant controversy in the cricketing world, affecting many players of that era, including Allan Donald.