Donald plans to rest

CENTURION, South Africa, Jan 15: South African fast bowler Allan Donald will take a break from international cricket - but wants to play for South Africa again next season, reports AFP.

Donald, 33, told a packed press conference at Centurion Park Saturday that he was not yet ready to retire.

South Africa's star fast bowler, who is not playing in the fifth and final Test against England because of gout in his big right toe, is 10 wickets short of becoming the 14th player in history to take 300 Test wickets.

He still wants to reach the target - but is undecided yet whether he will try to do it on South Africa's two-Test tour of India next month.

Donald said he wanted to take a complete break from international cricket after the forthcoming triangular one-day series with England and Zimbabwe in South Africa. Instead, he will accept a one-year playing contract from English county Warwickshire.

That would mean missing the tour of India, a home-and-away one-day showdown with World Cup champions Australia in April and August, and a tour of Sri Lanka in July and August.

But Ali Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, still wants Donald to be part of a South African team which he believes has a chance to "make history."

"Very few teams have been able to beat India in their own country but I believe the current side has that opportunity, especially if a committed Allan Donald is part of the team," Bacher said.

South Africa will play Tests in Bombay and Bangalore. Both venues, according to Bacher, have a reputation for providing good Test pitches with fair bounce for fast bowlers.

Donald said he had agreed to delay making a final decision and will inform the selectors whether he will be available before the side is picked in about two weeks. The team departs on February 16 and the Tests will be played between February 24 and March 6.

Bacher said the UCB was prepared to try to accommodate Donald because of the exceptional service he had given to the South African team.

"He is nearing the end of a distinguished career and we are prepared to be flexible. We wouldn't make these concessions if he was 26."

Donald will forfeit his South African contract fee during the time he is not available.

He said he hoped to come back strongly next season when South Africa have three home Tests each against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. But he said he had not thought ahead to a five-Test tour of the West Indies in April 2001.

Bacher said Donald would have to take his chances on being selected when he returns.

The fast bowler agreed. "I will have to make my way back into the national side like any other player," he said.

Bacher also said there was no guarantee Donald would be picked for the one-day series which will be staged between January 21 and February 12.

Donald said he hoped to play a full part in all Warwickshire's competitive matches during the 2000 English season. He failed to take a wicket last season because of injury. "I had such a disappointing season last year so it is very important for me to perform for them this year."

He said playing county cricket would enable him to spend quality time with his family.

"Although I will be playing regularly, mentally it will take away the pressure of playing international cricket," he said.

Donald said at the start of the season he aimed to take 35 wickets in seven Tests to reach the target of 300. He only took three in two matches against Zimbabwe but took 22 in four Tests against England before having to withdraw from the fifth Test.

He has taken 290 wickets in 60 Tests at an average of 21.66.