Peter Heine and Neil Adcock were feared throughout the Sixties, Peter Pollock and Mike Procter in the Seventies and now Pollock and Donald in the Nineties. It was a joy to watch; swing, seam, impeccable line, change of pace, all with uncanny control. Donald bowled eight overs on the trot with only two near the leg-side yet the batsman had to play everything.
The balls to defeat Hick and Flintoff were genuine slower deliveries with an off-break action from the hand. This against a backdrop of the most vicious short delivery of the match, well avoided by Nasser Hussain though with some discomfort.
Pollock, who has shown his true potential only in recent matches, was equally impressive. He seemed to get the length right, maybe a yard fuller than has been the case, making the batsmen play at everything.
The second new ball regularly hit the seam, moved and bounced uncomfortably and it was no surprise that the England batsmen had no answer.
This spell came at a crucial stage of the match where everything counted and the bowlers were under as much scrutiny as the batsmen. It was 19 overs of the best fast bowling all summer, if not all year. They had bowled their hearts out and put the target well within the grasp of the South African batsmen when it appeared it would be a lot more.
South Africa were reduced to 27 for five by Darren Gough and Angus Fraser, again with the inevitable controversy surrounding the umpires, of which we will hear a lot more before the summer is out. Technology is here to stay and the sooner it is refined and then embraced totally by all administrators the happier the players will be.
Enter Jonty Rhodes, who else, to bring some sanity back to the proceedings with a serene knock of 85 without appearing to be in the least bit troubled. While others were heavy-footed and caught regularly on the crease, his feet moved with precision and speed.
It says much for his temperament that he arrived at 12 for four and played seemingly without a care or false shot until a flick off his pad was collected by Andrew Flintoff at short midwicket by which time the score had progressed to 166.
It will be a great pity for Rhodes if South Africa do not taste victory as this knock was as good as it gets on a wicket and in a situation such as this.
McMillan yet again batted with character rather than flair but there is no doubting his ability in a tough situation. He will never dominate but does not give up his wicket easily. It tells all to those who aspire to succeed at this level. McMillan is talking of retirement; South Africa would miss him greatly.
This Test must rank as one of the best, with neither side ever getting to be in a position of strength to dictate proceedings. To the very end there have been twists and turns to confuse the most knowledgable critics.
The final chapter will be played out today. If England win, it will be euphoria after 12 years. If South Africa win, it will be a triumph of character and determination. But neither side should be greatly disappointed whatever the result.