UCB prepare for AD as Van Zyl takes over as bowling coach

Johannesburg - What with a whiff of rumour that anno domini is about to catch up Allan Donald as a Test player as early March the United Cricket Board started yesterday to prepare for what is better known as the after AD factor. Corrie van Zyl left for India yesterday as part of a two-year contract with the UCB, to prepare South Africa's fast bowlers for the rigours of a tough series of campaigns which includes a Test series Down Under in a couple of seasons time and a return clash later in 2001/02.

Underlining the urgency of the project Dr Ali Bacher, managingdirector of the UCB, said yesterday that Van Zyl would take over as the assistant coach to Graham Ford. A move which is likely to be welcomed by Ford as it gives him a chance to concentrate on the day-to-day coaching sciences and skills in Hansie Cronje's squad now in India.

Not surprisingly Van Zyls expertise as a fast bowler will enable to help him bring through as well identify, long-term, those who may take over Donald?s role. As it is there is a strong suggestion that Donald is expected to make a formal retirement announcement either after the second Test in India or at some stage during next summer.

'I have a few ideas of what I want to do,' Donald warned last month on the eve of the rain-hit Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion, a match which he was ruled out of playing because of a bout of gout.

'The selectors have been told of my plans and what I would like to do. We will leave it at that for now,' he said at the time.

It was the sort of warning the national selectors have heeded and for the first time Rushdi Magiet's national selection panel have displayed a sense of direction as well as long-term player philosophy.

'Corrie?s discipline and commitment, we believe, will have a very positive impact on our future fast bowlers,' Dr Bacher acknowledged.

A list of names includes Mornantau Hayward, Garnett Kruger, David Townsend, Albie Morkel, Charl Willoughby, Charl Langeveldt, Victor Mpitsang and Mfuneko Ngam.

'South Africa's future success at international level will be determined, we believe, by the emergence of these bowlers as leading international bowlers within the next few years,' Dr Bacher added.

No doubt the list also includes Greg Smith along with David Terbrugge and Dewald Pretorius, the latter being signalled out by Dale Benkenstein as the most impressive of the young bowlers he has faced on the circuit. Other names which are also likely to emerge are those of Shaun Adams, Pierre Joubert and Makhaya Ntini.

No doubt Van Zyl will have his own ideas on which should and should not be included in such a squad of future fast bowlers and where they are going to fit into South Africa's Test as well as limited-overs international future.