Donald and De Silva set to meet in Bloemfontein
Allan Donald is set to return to international cricket after a six-week absence in the fifth Standard Bank one-day international in Bloemfontein on Sunday and he could well find himself bowling to another of cricket's most respected elder statesmen -
Peter Robinson
12-Jan-2001
Allan Donald is set to return to international cricket after a six-week absence in the fifth Standard Bank one-day international in Bloemfontein on Sunday and he could well find himself bowling to another of cricket's most respected elder statesmen - Sri Lanka's Aravinda de Silva.
Donald has been out of action since the second Test match against New Zealand at the beginning of December - first with a stomach muscle strain and then after an abscess in his right elbow was drained.
All the indications are that he is ready to get going again, however, and with Lance Klusener now also on the South African injury list, Donald's return could not be more timely.
Klusener aggravated cartilage in his right knee after bowling three balls at Newlands on Thursday and left the field. He will miss the last two ODIs against Sri Lanka but is expected to be fit for the third Test match which starts at SuperSport Park on January 20.
It is not entirely clear how Donald will be fitted back into the South African team. He could come back as a straight swap for Klusener, but South Africa are also keen to give all-rounder Justin Kemp a run now that the one-day series has been secured.
It does seem probable, though, that De Silva, who arrived from Sri Lanka as a replacement this week, will get his first game in South Africa in Bloemfontein. The tourists appear to have little option other than to play him on Sunday's match and in the final ODI at the Wanderers on Wednesday if he is to have time at the crease before the third Test match.
De Silva is considered a good player of short bowling by South African Shaun Pollock and, heaven knows, Sri Lanka desperately need someone in their top six able to come to terms with South African pitches.
After South Africa's crushing innings victory at Newlands on a pitch that gave the home side more bounce than they had seen all season at home, it seems almost certain that a track of similar nature will await the two teams when they arrive at SuperSport Park.