Cricket: White Lightning will strike again

By RICHARD BOOCK

Optimism over the progress of New Zealand's injured cricketers has been tempered by some sobering news from South Africa.

Champion paceman Allan Donald, who was toying with the idea of retirement at the end of a injury-ridden 1999-2000 summer, has declared his commitment to the South African side and will be available to play against New Zealand in the three-test series starting in October.

United Cricket Board managing director Ali Bacher has confirmed Donald's international availability up to and including the 2003 World Cup, and said the 34-year-old would sign an 18-month contract for South Africa at the end of the English season.

One of the few survivors of the Republic's return to international cricket in 1991, Donald is at present contracted to his old county Warwickshire, but could be released for next month's three one-day internationals against Australia.

With 297 test wickets to his name, the man known as White Lightning is regarded as the one of the quickest bowlers in the game and seems certain to reach the 300 club during the home tests against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

Although Donald seemed tired and short on motivation at the end of last summer, Bacher suggested the sacking of captain Hansie Cronje amid a match-fixing scandal, coupled with the relative inexperience of the team, had placed a premium on experience.

Injury has so far restricted Donald to just three tests against New Zealand, but he has proved alarmingly effective in the 13 one-day internationals between the two sides, taking 23 wickets at 18.43, at an economy rate of 3.5.

News of his availability has coincided with reports that all three injury-plagued New Zealand bowlers - Dion Nash, Geoff Allott and Daniel Vettori - are making encouraging progress in their efforts to be fit in time for next month's triangular tournament in Singapore.

That trip is followed by the tour of Zimbabwe, and the International Cricket Council's knockout tournament in Kenya, before the New Zealanders begin an eight week-long haul through South Africa.

The improvement of Allott is causing the most excitement, particularly after a long-standing stress fracture seemed to be drawing the curtain on his career last year.

The sensation of the World Cup in England, when he and Australian spinner Shane Warne set a new tournament record of 20 wickets, the Canterbury left-armer is operating at 70 per cent pace, and is apparently on track to complete an unlikely comeback.

Allott's most recent first-class game was against Essex 11 months ago, when the back condition forced him out of the tour of India and the following home series against the West Indies and Australia.

New Zealand Cricket's director of player development, Ashley Ross, said the left-armer's prospects were improving by the week.

"He's passed all the stages we've required without any symptoms and he continues to go from strength to strength. We certainly expect him to be available from what he's doing at the moment."

Nash was also forced out of the tour of India and though featuring prominently in the 2-0 test series win over the Windies, was clearly struggling with his fitness and ended up missing the final one-day international and the series against Australia.

However, indications are that he is looking strong and should be ready to resume international duties when the team for Singapore is selected at the end of the month.

Vettori, who last season became the youngest spin bowler to reach 100 test wickets, then promptly broke down with a suspected stress fracture injury to his spine, is probably causing the least amount of concern and is bowling freely.

A more recent bone-scan revealed that the 21-year-old had not suffered a fracture as initially thought, allowing him to make a relatively quick recovery.