MUNI THE BOSS

As ODI cricket celebrates its 40 years of existence in January 2011, Donald believes South Africa reinvigorated the format with its insistence on fitness and fielding in the last 20 years since its return to the international fold.

For this change of attitude Donald credits former coach, late Bob Woolmer. "There is no question about the fact that South Africa took one-day cricket to another level. Bob Woolmer came up with new fielding drills. He made us feel like captains in our position. He said we must take responsibility for the position we field in," recalled Donald.

Even today, Donald remembers the plan Woolmer outlined in his first speech to the team.

"He outlined the fact that we must be the fittest team and number one in both the formats. We achieved both. We were quite fortunate that we had a young bunch of guys who were natural leaders. It was a pleasure to be a part of that cricket team. It is a real travesty that we were so good yet we never won a World Cup. In (the ICC Cricket World Cup) 1999 we were by far the best team, but it did not happen, maybe it is our turn this time around in Asia," hoped Donald.

South Africa's team of the 1990s had one outstanding fielder in Jonty Rhodes and ten other capable fielders including Donald himself. But Donald believes thanks to ODI cricket the standard has been raised even further.

"Since 2003 fielding has become such a specialist form of this format. You have got to have the right fielders at the right places. We now have athletes. They are not just like Jonty who was a little guy. We have six feet three inch guys as athletes. The fielding coaches have made a difference in the one-day format. We have guys who are nowadays specialists in two positions, not just one like backward point and deep extra cover," said Donald.

Today unlike in the past, says Donald, a brilliant fielder can also be considered an all-rounder.

"Teams that have won games have good athletes who often make a good fielding unit. It is like having an all-rounder who can be a pinch hitter and death bowler. It also makes for really good viewing. That is probably the impact of Twenty20 on ODI cricket. As Bob Woolmer would say in one-day cricket every ball is an event but now it is a huge event. You need to be a fairly good cricketer to play one-day cricket these days," added Donald.he bowlers have not got any defence. A lot more slower bowlers are coming into play. You have your bits and pieces bowlers who take the pace off the ball. That is the only way to make sure that it becomes difficult to smash from ball one. Bowlers have adapted to the format despite so much being against them. The skill is getting better especially from a seamer's point of view. Spinners have become even craftier than before. You just cannot line anybody up. The bowling skills have got better and it is catching up with the batting," said Donald.

The best example of Donald's assessment lies in his choice for the greatest ODI match of all time. He picked South Africa's historic chase of Australia's total of 434 at Johannesburg in 2005-06 as the best-ever match.

"I have never seen anything like that. To score continuously at ten runs an over for 50 overs was a phenomenal feat. Having been there and seen the South African crowd react the way it did was sensational. The victory pulled a nation together from both a cricketing and a sporting point of view. It is something everyone will remember forever. At the Wanderers even now you can see images of players enjoying. It was an absolutely heroic effort. I got a lump in my throat that day being a sportsman and having been involved with the game."