Donald steps down as South Africa bowling coach

Allan Donald has stepped down as South Africa’s bowling coach in the first of what is expected to be a series of changes post the 2015 World Cup. Donald held the role for four years since 2011 and served under Gary Kirsten and Russell Domingo while also working at IPL teams Pune Warriors and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Donald’s decision coincided with the expiration of his contract, which along with the rest of the South African support staff and selection panel, ran its course at the conclusion of the World Cup. Taking the team to the semi-finals of the tournament, for Donald, marked the end point of his tenure.

“I always wanted to give myself the chance of working up until the World Cup,” Donald told ESPNcricinfo. “I really felt now was a good time to get and get on with it and that’s that. It’s been four awesome years and I will miss the guys big time.”

Donald hailed the attack he worked with as the “best in the world,” and picked out their claiming of the Test mace as a highlight in what he called the “best four years of my life.” During his time with the South African side, Donald preached aggression and encouraged the pack to adopt that mantra.

Dale Steyn led the response. South Africa’s pace spearhead continued his dominance at the top of the Test rankings. Under Donald, South Africa’s premier pacers blossomed in the longest format with Vernon Philander becoming the fastest to 100 Test wickets in more than century, and Morne Morkel finding what Donald called an “inner mongrel.”

More recently, all three also formed the core of the ODI attack but they could not replicate the same sustained success in the fifty-over format and there are concerns over the quality in the second tier. Under Donald, the likes of Wayne Parnell has not developed the consistency that would have been expected of him while Marchant de Lange and Beuran Hendricks’ careers have been interrupted by injury. Kyle Abbott has come through, with success at both Test and limited-overs levels, and Donald also took a special interest in Under-19 World Cup winner Kagiso Rabada, who Donald called a “thoroughbred” with a bright future.

It’s because of players like Abbott and Rabada that Donald believes he is leaving South Africa in good hands. “I have a lot of respect for the environment and culture that the players have created and I have no doubt that it will continue to grow under the leadership of Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis,” he said.

Charl Langeveldt, the former international who has been consulting with the national team since their series against West Indies and traveled to the World Cup, is the front runner to take over from Donald. Domingo, who was given an extension last September, has yet to choose the rest of his support staff which previously included Adi Birrell as assistant coach and Claude Henderson as a spin bowling consultant. Both are expected to be retained.

Donald’s departure was expected to be the major change following the 2015 World Cup but South Africa are also likely to have a new selection convener in the near future. Andrew Hudson is set to be replaced when the new panel is voted on at the end of the month.