I’D LOVE TO SEE KOHLI AND BUMRAH PLAY IN THE SA20: ALLAN DONALD
Mumbai: Speaking on Dinesh Karthik’s involvement in the SA20, SA20 Ambassador and South Africa fast bowling legend Allan Donald said: “I think, since I’ve seen him come on board, I think it’s awesome. It really is awesome that an absolute Indian legend—a guy who, for me, is such an intelligent cricketer. I actually really enjoy listening to him commentating. I think he’s just a breath of fresh air. And it’s great to see an Indian guy who’s an ex-international—a guy who’s had a wealth of experience in the IPL—being signed up. It’ll be awesome to see him play if he does play.
Like I’ve said before, I mean, young cricketers, like everywhere in the world, are looking up to the Indian superstars, the Indian Premier League, and what it stands for. It’s just getting bigger, better, and faster. And to have one of your own playing in the SA20 is just a masterstroke. It really is. I think it’s wonderful to see. He’s still a fine cricketer. You know, he can play. And I think just listening to the launch and him being around and doing his stuff over there in India and promoting the SA20—I thought it was… He was just superb. It was great. It’d be absolutely wonderful to have him around. It’ll mean a lot to the young cricketers that is for sure.”
Speaking on how SA20 has changed the dynamic of cricket in South Africa, SA20 Ambassador and South Africa fast bowling legend Allan Donald said: “When I sat back as a viewer and I watched this thing unfold, I remember saying I was here at Boland Park, where I live in Paarl, and I saw Graeme Smith, and it was sort of three or four games into the SA20. I saw the crowd at Boland Park and I saw the amount of interest globally, and the viewership that was shown to me a couple of days later was astronomical, and that is what people want to see.
I think the rest of the world is watching. You’ve got the Big Bash and you’ve got the IPL, which is just a product on its own—it’s just massive. And then SA20 has got the potential to go past the Big Bash, seeing that it’s only a month long. And also, the Australian crowds are huge, but this means so much to cricket in South Africa and domestically.
Because I left a few weeks ago, we don’t have any more domestic cricket until next year. So, a lot of the guys are kind of jealous where everyone else is going. But the learning and the watching that will be done by those players not involved in the SA20 will be huge because they want to become—they want to punch the door down to becoming the next Kwena Maphaka, the next Rassie van der Dussen, and Reeza Hendricks. So the interest is just—I mean, the television interest that’s been created over the years… Like I’ve said before, the ticket sales have gone through the roof, youngsters are ready to go, merchandise is flying off the shelves—it’s massive.”
Speaking on injuries suffered by fast bowlers due to high-level competition, SA20 Ambassador and South Africa fast bowling legend Allan Donald said: “The injuries, unfortunately, to a guy like Anrich Nortje, who’s a box-office bowler, and a couple of others, it’s not ideal. It’s not ideal. What the rest of the world wants to see—what young fans around the world want to see—is a guy bowling at 155 clicks and making things happen. So it’s unfortunately the brutality of the world game and where it is.
Something I keep saying is that, you know, I’ve only played two T20 matches in my entire career, right at the back end of it. So, what these guys are going through now—all the leagues—I’m not surprised that a lot of the guys will miss a league here, a tournament there, and maybe even for their country. It’s just, it’s an ongoing cycle that I think is, you know, it’s hard to stop. It’s the level of the stress that gets put on the bodies, unfortunately. But again, it’s an opportunity for someone else to stake a claim. So, yeah, and that’s what we want to see.”
Speaking on which young fast bowlers he is excited to watch in SA20 Season 3, SA20 Ambassador and South Africa fast bowling legend Allan Donald said: “There are about three bowlers—South African bowlers—that I’m really looking forward to seeing, and those three guys are Eathen Bosch, from—he’s playing for the Pretoria Capitals, and, you know, Codi Yusuf, who’s playing for Paarl Royals, and young Kwena Maphaka.
Those three young South Africans—Bosch, probably the more experienced—he’s been around for a while. I’m really pleased for him that he’s finally got a South African call-up. He’s been really on the fringes and has struggled to get in there because of other guys that have been punching the lights out. So, for me, those three guys—especially Bosch, but young Kwena Maphaka, an 18-year-old—you know, I can’t—I think the whole of Paarl is very excited that he’s here. There’s huge excitement about him being in this team. I think we’re going to see a lot of him this year. Lots of experiences will be felt by Kwena Maphaka. I think he’s such a talent; he is just a freak, you know. So, yeah, he’s going to have some good days, and he’s going to have some bad days, but he seems to have this head on his shoulders that is just very freakishly calm and not phased about too many things when it goes badly. He just wants to stay in the fight all the time. So I think he’s going to be box office this coming January. I can’t wait to see him being very successful, I hope.”
Speaking on which Indian players he would love to have in the SA20, SA20 Ambassador and South Africa fast bowling legend Allan Donald said:”Oh my gosh, that’s a—where do I start? Where do I start getting a player from there? My goodness me, jeez. If I’m a batter, I’m Virat Kohli all over there. If it’s a bowler, 100 percent Bumrah. 100 percent. My goodness me, can you imagine that? Can you actually imagine some Indian players—or if you’re allowed to pick one? Oh my, that would be the most special thing. That’ll just put it to another level. That’ll add another level of how big this tournament can become if you’re allowed to. Imagine two—oh, imagine two per team. But we’ll keep it there at one. I’ll have those two players for me—Kohli and Bumrah. If I have to pick from a batter or a bowler—100 percent sure.”
Speaking on which captain has impressed him the most in the SA20, SA20 Ambassador and South Africa fast bowling legend Allan Donald said: “I think, jeez, there are some good captains, aren’t they? And I’m going to be super biased, you know, and I’m going to single out my captain at DSG and our left-arm spinner. You know, I think he’s a wonderful guy. I’ve been watching him for quite some time, and, you know, he’s been absolutely—Keshav Maharaj—he has been absolutely fantastic, quietly going about his things.
But I’ve also spoken to him on the phone a few times, and, you know, he’s incredibly passionate—not just for his domestic team, obviously, playing for South Africa, but when it comes to that DSG, Durban Super Giants team, I mean, the players seem to really warm to him. And also working with Lance Klusener, two hometown boys, they—I think, you know, they get on really, really well. They understand each other really well. So I think, you know, the team—when I speak to a few of the members there, especially Lance and some of the coaching staff—Keshav Maharaj has got a good thing going there with Lance Klusener.
So, yeah, look, I think there’s so many great captains around, you know. There are so many fantastic players. I’m just super, super stoked that I’m involved this year and hopefully for a good few years to come. So, yeah, I’m just like a kid in a candy store at the moment. You know, it’s so nice to be involved in such a major tournament in your home country that’s producing such levels of success over the first two years. So I’m really, really stoked about it.”
