Photo Credit: SA20 Leauge
Long before teenagers followed their sporting heroes on Instagram, cricket-crazed kids would fill their bedroom wall with posters of their idols.
During the 1990s that would primarily be a cut-out of an athletic fast bowler adorned in neon zinc sunscreen across his face, nose and bottom lip.
Alongside him would be an iconic image of a fielder diving full length through the air about to crash into the stumps. And they would both be complimented by a strongly-built left-hander’s booming Duncan Fearnley willow swinging lustily to the leg side.
Allan Donald, Jonty Rhodes and Lance Klusener. Linked together by both glory and disappointment. Legends that fuelled an entire generation’s love for the game of cricket.
And after so many years apart, the trio have been in almost boy band-like fashion, reunited at Durban’s Super Giants for Betway SA20 Season 3.
Head coach Klusener and Rhodes (fielding coach) have been on the road together for the last two SA20 seasons already, guiding DSG to the final last season at Newlands.
Now they’ve roped in ‘White Lightning’ to help them take that one step further to the promised land.
“I watched it for the first two seasons. Year 2 was even better. And to be part of it for the first time with DSG for the first time is a massive privilege,” Donald told Betway SA20.
“To catch up with my two South African buddies … Lance and Jonty … is going to be a lot of fun.
“I’ve followed Lance in his team meetings. He is really calm. He brings a great calmness to the group. And we all know how vocal Jonty is.
“Just amazing to be back with them. We will be sharing a lot of memories. I’m looking forward to that.”
There is certainly plenty of emotion attached to Donald not only joining his fellow South African legends at DSG, but also returning to Kingsmead.
The East Coast venue was a happy hunting ground for Donald during his heyday. He claimed 29 of his 330 Test wickets at an average of 20.68 in just seven matches there.
For many there will always be one particular wicket that stands out in the memory bank though.
The players had just returned to the field after lunch on the second day of the first Test against India in 1996.
Donald was charging in from the Umgeni End. The radar was not on target with the first two deliveries.
“I remember coming out after lunch and bowling two of the biggest pies. And (former Proteas captain) Hansie (Cronje) ran up to me and asked ‘Listen, did you have a good lunch?’” Donald quipped.
The little verbal rebuke from his skipper had the desired effect. Donald’s next delivery sits comfortably in the pantheon of greatest balls ever sent down in Test cricket.
Angling into the right-hander, the ball swooped through Sachin Tendulkar’s usually water-tight defence to send the Little Master’s off stump cartwheeling.
What followed from Donald was pure exhilaration and will forever be imprinted in Kingsmead’s annals.
“It was just a dream delivery. It nipped back, and hit the top of off,” Donald said.
“I still can’t believe my celebration, arms out wide and just taking off.
“It showed what it meant when you knocked some people over. You know you are up for a scrap. It was hard work to get them out and brings back great memories being back there.”
Donald wants to create new memories with DSG at Kingsmead though. He certainly feels the roster put together for Season 3 has the ability to go all the way, particularly with the IPL’s new record retention Heinrich Klaasen shoring up the middle-order.
“There is a very good mix of everything. Top, middle and backend and a bowling attack I am really looking forward to working with,” Donald said.
“And there’s Klaasie … to have him in that side. And winning games from behind the eight-ball. He is just phenomenal.
“Walking into that iconic stadium. It’s an awesome stadium. The atmosphere. I am sure it’s going to be a packed house when we start on January 10.”
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Name of Author: SA20 League
SA20, officially known as the Betway SA20 for sponsorship reasons, is a Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament in South Africa organized by Cricket South Africa (CSA). First held in the 2023 season, the league features six city-based teams. Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the first two editions of the tournament.
