Donald spells out his future career plans

Centurion - Allan Donald ducked his own bouncer on Saturday and all but admitted he is almost 12 months from retirement as a Test fast bowler.

It means he has given the South African selectors a year to sort out a replacement for the West Indies tour in 2001. He announced at SuperSport Park he was taking a break from the international side of the game until next season when New Zealand and Sri Lanka are the tourists.

Although he has not closed the door on playing in the two back to back Tests in India in Mumbai in late February and early March he is not available for the Sri Lanka tour and the two limited-overs series against Australia in April or August.

The bouncer he ducked was whether he would be available for the tour of the West Indies in 2001 and from his non-committal reply it seemed almost certain he is not thinking of playing a five-match series in the Caribbean after six Tests in South Africa next summer.

The strain of playing all year had taking its toll, mentally and physically and "I need to spend a little time away from the game and I feel that once the triangular series is over this is the right time".

What it means that he is taking a sabbatical while sorting out his longer-term future, which it seems now lies more with the English county, Warwickshire, than South Africa. Donald's announcement came less than 24 hours after Daryll Cullinan made known his plans to quit all forms of the limited-overs game and concentrate on Test and the first-class game.

Whether Donald is considered for the triangular series involving England Zimbabwe is up to the selectors, although the convener, Rushdi Magiet indicated that as he was available he would be considered.

"We have to look at all our options when we select the side," Magiet said yesterday. "It is as simple as that."

Which indicated the selectors would consider Donald's availability and if it fits into the game plan they will most likely pick him. Donald admitted he still had much to think about, especially his availability for the India tour where he is required to play in only the two Tests. Taking 300 wickets was not major motivating factor yet he was quite distressed at how the bout of gout had kept him out of the rain-hit final Test of the Millennium Test series against England.

There was no play at all yesterday although the weather, before lunch, had lifted sufficiently to suggest their might be a chance of an hour's play before lunch and what remained of the remainder of the day. As Donald was announcing his plans, however, the weather took a turn for the worse.

Dr Ali Bacher, the managing-director of the United Cricket Board, hoped that Donald would look positively at the two Test matches as he felt the man known as "White Lightning" could help South Africa beat India in that series. It may have been a case of the good Doctor buttering the slice a little thicker in the hope Donald might, as he considers his options, make himself available for the India Test series.

"I have asked him to go back to Bloemfontein, if your heart is in it call the convener," said Dr Bacher, hoping Donald will consider the UCB request to play in Mumbai and Bangalore. "We (UCB) have adopted a flexible approach especially as he was nearing the end of what is an Illustrious career and have agreed to him having this time off," Dr Bacher said.

In this respect he will not be on a South Africa contract during the months he will be playing for Warwickshire.

Donald's own view was more personal and pragmatic, wanting to spend time away from the demands, stress and strains of the Test circuit. Although he had found playing on the Asian sub-continent had helped him learn much about bowling and improving his skills, the rangy 33-year-old felt that 300 was not a mythical target.

"I know Dr Bacher would like me to go on and take 450," he said amid much laughter, but last year had taken much out of him: the World Cup, his benefit season and other factors. This time around he was feeling a little hungrier for success.

Donald said the county contract was as that of a player for this season and he would be playing in at all "competitive county championship levels".