In the latest of my audio interviews with former cricketers, I caught up with legendary Proteas speedster Allan Donald. While he’s best known for his work in South African colours and is currently working with Bangladesh as a coach, here he takes us into the distant past as he recalls his early years playing in South Africa’s isolation era — think Orange Free State, Warwickshire and the mighty Impalas. He also talks about Hansie Cronje’s visionary work that put Bloemfontein on the cricket map, his fears that South Africa might never gain readmission…and what went wrong for his beloved Springboks in the recent All Blacks test at Ellis Park. (More on that here.) There’s also a rare chance to hear ‘AD’ speak a bit of Afrikaans!
Allan Donald (and a few Orange Free State team-mates) as seen in the booklet for the 1988/89 Benson & Hedges Night Series final against Western Province, a match he recalls in this trip down memory lane
Do also listen to my previous interviews with Omar Henry and Brian McMillan.
I don’t do sports journalism as a hobby: I’ve worked in this business for over 20 years. Setting up, preparation, editing (and then only roughly) and uploading this added up to about half a day’s work. If you enjoyed the interview and would like to recognise that content doesn’t make itself, clicking the link below will be much appreciated!
The Allan Donald Interview (audio)