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Donald finally calls it a day By Angus Fraser

Cricket finally said goodbye to one of its greatest fast bowlers on Wednesday night when Allan Donald announced his retirement from first-class cricket.

During the nineties there were few finer sights in cricket than Donald in full flow. He possessed all of the assets you would want to find in a fast bowler - he was strong, athletic and big hearted. And his superb bowling action enabled him to become the 16th-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.

Donald's international career ended at the 2003 World Cup, but unlike most players of his stature he decided to return to his roots and continued playing for his province, Free State.

But the toil of bowling thousands of overs on rock-hard pitches has taken its toll.

Donald's career will be remembered with fondness in England, where he spent several seasons winning trophies with Warwickshire and terrorising all the batsmen.

One such situation occurred in 1998 at Trent Bridge. England were playing South Africa in an evenly fought Test match when Michael Atherton gloved a catch to the keeper.

The umpire said "not out" and Donald went ballistic. He proceeded to bowl one of the most memorable spells of fast-bowling seen in England.

Atherton saw England home to victory but this did not prevent Donald coming into our dressing room and sharing a few beers.

Not only was he a great cricketer; he also played the game as it should be played.

Source.