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Donald out of fourth Test against West Indies

AFP
4 January 1999



CAPE TOWN, Jan 4 (AFP) - If South Africa are to win the fourth cricket Test against the West Indies at Newlands then it looks as if they are going to have to do without the services of ace strike bowler Allan Donald.

Donald is suffering from a strained left hamstring and if captain Hansie Cronje and physio Craig Smith are to believed, short of a miraculous recovery over the next 24 hours, the 32-year-old paceman's Test is over.

Cronje is not one for shouting the odds but on Monday he conceded that at 91-3 in their second innings and with an overall lead of 285 runs his side were in a very good position to make it four successive test wins over a demoralised West Indian side.

``Yes, we are in a good position,'' he told SAPA news agency.

``But it's going to be hard work without Allan Donald. He's a key member of our attack and unfortunately I think we are going to be without him,'' Cronje added.

Cronje left the door ajar by adding that a lot was dependent on how quickly the physio could get Donald right.

``But that at this stage it's a race against time,'' the South African skipper said.

``Maybe, at a push,'' said Smith, who would prefer to have his charge fit and ready for the fifth Test at Centurion Park.

``Look, if things are looking a bit desperate and we need a couple of wickets it's just possible that he might be able to get three or four overs. But personally I would prefer it he rest,'' he added.

Donald, who limped off the field on Sunday after claiming 3-13 from five overs, gave his leg a try-out on Monday but managed to complete just one over off a shortened run-up before calling it quits.

With Donald and Curtly Ambrose out of the game life could prove a lot sweeter for the batsmen at Newlands over the next two days.

But as Cronje was quick to point out: ``There are no easy sessions in Test cricket.''

His own men discovered that Monday when, after coasting along to 31 without loss they suddenly found themselves with their backs-to-the-wall on 31-3.

``These things tend to happen when you are in a comfortable situation,'' he said. ``It's just a case of having to take stock again, refocus and keep going.''

Cronje and Jacques Kallis did the stocktaking and kept going to put on 60 for the fourth-wicket, any threat of a wholesale collapse successfully averted.

With Donald out of the fray both still have a very long Test ahead of them.

Cronje said Kallis was an integral part of the South African attack and might be called on to share the new-ball with Shaun Pollock.

``Both Jacques and David Terbrugge can do the job for us,'' he added. ``So I think its just a case of who, at the time, I feel can control the new ball.

``I'm afraid if Allan is out then all the other guys are just going to have to come to the party.''



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