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Scaling down South Africa's Donald lessens playing commitments
Posted: Saturday January 15, 2000 01:13 PM
CENTURION, South Africa (AP) -- South Africa's ace fast bowler Allan Donald announced Saturday that he wishes to stay out of international cricket until the 2000-2001 season. Speaking at SuperSport Park, where he has been sidelinedfrom the fifth test against the touring England side by a bout of gout, he said he needed to get away from the mental and physical intensity of international cricket if he wanted to prolong his career. "I also have a wife and two children, and I haven't seen too much of them over the last few years," said Donald, whose oldest daughter, Hannah, starts school this year. Donald is South Africa's leading wicket taker in test, with a total of 290. If he reaches 300, he will become only the 13th bowler ever to reach that mark. Ali Bacher, chief executive officer of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, said he respected Donald's decision. He added, however, that he hoped Donald would reconsider his position with regard to South Africa's tour to India, scheduled for February. Donald pledged to consider making the trip to India, saying his wife seemed happy to let him go. "I will be available for South Africa's six home tests at the end of this year," said Donald. "I do realize, however, I will have to earn my place in the team." Donald will spend the southern hemisphere winter playing county cricket in Warwickshire, England, under his mentor, Bob Woolmer. "It's not as if I will be completely inactive," said Donald. "It is something of a risk, because young players will have the opportunity now to make their mark on the national team," he said. Donald's announcement follows hard on the heels of Daryll Cullinan's decision Friday to quit the one-day international game. He said he was stepping aside to allow younger players to graduate into the national side ahead of the 2003 World Cup, to be played in South Africa. Cullinan played 122 one-day internationals, in which he scored 3,628 runs at an average of 34.57. His highest score was 124. Jonty Rhodes is another senior player who has opted out of the tour of India. His wife is due to give birth to their first child then.
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