Cricket: Donald injury could unleash new quickie

By RICHARD BOOCK

PORT ELIZABETH - South Africa may be set to unleash a rising young pace star against New Zealand in the third cricket test at Johannesburg.

An injury to fast bowler Allan Donald has seen the South African selectors add 21-year-old Eastern Province tearaway Mfuneko Ngam to the team, who were heading towards an unassailable 2-0 series lead over New Zealand last night.

Ngam, who like Makhaya Ntini is of Xhosa blood, comes from a tiny, rural East Cape township called Middledrift, and is considered quicker than Ntini or Donald, although there may be a question over his accuracy and consistency.

Donald is apparently suffering from an abdominal strain similar to the one that sidelined him at the end of South Africa's 1998-99 tour of New Zealand.

He has also been hampered by a sore left heel.

Donald will apparently play if he feels fit by Thursday, but it seems more likely that the team management will take the precaution of giving him a rest in the lead-up to the series against Sri Lanka, who arrived in South Africa on Sunday.

New Zealand's test line-up, meanwhile, seems unlikely to change much, with the only probable debate involving whether to retain Kerry Walmsley, who was lightly bowled by his captain, Stephen Fleming, at St George's Park, or to bring back first-test paceman Daryl Tuffey.