Allan Donald

Allan Donald

Personal information
Full name	Allan Anthony Donald
Born	(1966-10-20) 20 October 1966 (age 58) Bloemfontein, Orange Free State Province, South Africa
Nickname	White Lightning
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm fast
Role	Bowler
International information
National side	South Africa (1991–2003)
Test debut (cap 238)	18 April 1992 v West Indies
Last Test	24 February 2002 v Australia
ODI debut (cap 2)	10 November 1991 v India
Last ODI	27 February 2003 v Canada
ODI shirt no.	10
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1985/86–2003/04	Orange Free State/Free State
1985/86–1986/87	Impalas
1987–2000	Warwickshire
2002	Worcestershire
Head coaching information
Years	Team
2013	Pune Warriors
2020–2022	Knights
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 72 164 316 458 Runs scored 652 95 2,785 544 Batting average 10.68 4.31 12.05 7.88 100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 Top score 37 13 55* 23* Balls bowled 15,519 8,561 58,801 22,856 Wickets 330 272 1,216 684 Bowling average 22.25 21.78 22.76 21.84 5 wickets in innings 20 2 68 11 10 wickets in match 3 0 9 0 Best bowling 8/71 6/23 8/37 6/15 Catches/stumpings 18/– 28/– 115/– 74/–
Source: Cricinfo, 4 July 2009

Allan Anthony Donald (born 20 October 1966) is a South African former cricketer who is also the former bowling coach of Bangladesh national cricket team. Often nicknamed 'White Lightning' due to his quick bowling, he is considered one of the South Africa national cricket team's most successful pace bowlers. He was an integral member of the South African team in its resurgence into international cricket since readmission and played an influential role as a frontline genuine seam bowler to boost South Africa to new heights. During his playing career, he was known for his bowling speed and aggression on the field. He is also remembered for his infamous runout during South Africa's loss in the 1999 World Cup semi-final match against Australia. Donald is the first South African to take 300 Test wickets.^[1]

Donald was one of the top fast bowlers in Test cricket, reaching the top of the ICC Test rankings in 1998, peaking with a ranking of 895 points the next year. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he reached 794 points in 1998, ranked second behind teammate Shaun Pollock. He shared the new ball with Pollock from the 1996/1997 tour of India until his retirement in 2002. Donald is known for his friendship with Pollock especially when they used to be regular bowling partners for South Africa. Donald described Pollock as South Africa's Glenn McGrath.^[2] He featured in four World Cup tournaments for South Africa in 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2003.

During his playing career, he was well known for applying zinc cream on his cheeks and nose to avoid the effects of sunburn.^[3] Donald was one of 10 South African cricketers to make their test debuts during their one-off test tour to the West Indies in 1992. He was part of South Africa's first ODI team as well as South Africa's first World Cup team. He had picked up a total of 38 wickets across the four World Cup tournaments he played and is currently the second all-time leading wicket taker for South Africa in World Cups, after Imran Tahir.^[4]

Since retiring Donald has been a coach with a number of teams, including international sides. From 2018 to 2019 he was the Assistant Coach at Kent County Cricket Club in England. In 2019, Donald was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.^[5]