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Allan Donald seeks his 300th Test wicket |
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November 17, 2000
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa--(UNB/AP) - Facing Allan Donald on his home ground as he hunts down his 300th Test wicket is not a prospect the injury-hit New Zealanders are relishing. South Africa meets New Zealand Friday in the first of three Test matches at Springbok Park after handing them a 5-0 defeat in a six-match one-day international series. Donald, who will be playing in his 63rd Test match, has taken 297 wickets. He has rediscovered his rhythm and pace after a lengthy break from international cricket in the earlier part of the year, and he seems more motivated than ever. The regularity with which he takes wickets makes him a fearsome opponent. Only Pakistan's Waqar Younis has a better strike rate of the bowlers above him on the list of most successful wicket takers. New Zealand's batting has looked sparse throughout the South African leg of their lengthy African junket. Roger Twose has opted to be a one-day specialist, and he was their player of the tour until his departure. The remaining batsmen are all battling for form. Opener Mark Richardson looks in good form with three centuries in three innings in the Kiwis' warmup matches, but Nathan Astle, captain Stephen Fleming and Craig McMillan have all looked scratchy. In addition, allrounder Chris Cairns is out with his knee problem. That is a double blow for the tourists, as he would have bolstered their batting and bowling. That problem has been exacerbated by the injury to Scott Styris, who would have attempted to fill Cairns' role. Injury has totally decimated New Zealand bowling. Spin prospect Daniel Vettori is home with a stress fracture, and with Simon Doull, Dion Nash and Geoff Allott missing, legspinner Brooke Walker is going to have to shoulder the load together with Shayne O'Connor. Both look like good prospects, but unlikely to run through any batting order just yet, let alone South Africa's. For South Africa, Jonty Rhodes' retirement from Test cricket opens a hole at No. 5, filled by the in-form Neil McKenzie. After a brilliant one-day series with the bat, Lance Klusener is set to shift up to No. 6, a position many believe he should have filled some years ago. With Herschelle Gibbs still serving his ban for agreeing to underperform in a match, Boeta Dippenaar continues his short partnership at the top of the order with Gary Kirsten. Donald returns for his first Test in almost a year, and Makhaya Ntini gets the nod ahead of the injured Mornantau Hayward. Offspinner Nicky Boje could prove to be a real thorn in the Kiwis' side, but not necessarily as a bowler. He can be used anywhere in the batting order from No. 4 to No. 8, given his current superb run of form that included another century in domestic four-day cricket last weekend. The match begins at 10 a.m. (0800. GMT). Teams South Africa (from): Gary Kirsten, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Neil McKenzie, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Shaun Pollock (captain), Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini, Shafiek Abrahams. New Zealand (from) Mark Richardson, Craig Spearman, Matthew Sinclair, Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Hamish Marshall, Craig McMillanf, Adam Parore, Brooke Walker, Daryl Tuffey, Shayne O'Connor, Chris Martin, Kerry Walmesly Umpires: Arani Jayaprakash, India, and Dave Orchard, South Africa TV Umpire: Dave Orchard, South Africa Match referee: Maushad Ali, Pakistan
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