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May 31, 2007

England have hired one of the greatest fastest bowlers ever - South African Allan Donald to act as a bowling consultant on a short term basis. 'White Lightening' Allan Donald will be working with the English bowlers for the remaining two test matches and the entire One Day Series against West Indies.

Allan Donald's appointment as a bowling coach comes despite the presence of a specialist bowling coach in Kevin Shine. It is believed that Shine will now be working on only young and upcoming bowlers on the fringe of selection in the National Squad. The 40-year-old Allan Donald is also keen that Kevin Shine will not be available as the bowling coach of the English Test Side as long as he is there. However, Peter Moores, the England Coach has stated that Donald and Shine will be working together on the England Test bowlers. Kevin Shine had been working with the English side for 12 months or so having replaced the highly successful Trevor Cooley who was instrumental in tuning up the fast bowlers for the Ashes victory in 2005. Under Shine, England were given a 0-5 whitewash down under in the last Ashes. The first test against West Indies at Lord's saw the bowlers struggle to bowl out the Windies.

England have won the second test at Leeds to be leading 1-0 against a weak and depleted West Indies. The second test saw the emergence of Ryan Sidebottom as a new wicket taking resource for England. Donald will have to work closely on getting Steve Harmison back to his fiery best. The 40-year-old Allan Donald since retiring from test cricket and ODIs was involved as a commentator. For the record, Donald had taken 330 Test wickets and 272 ODI wickets with amazing strike rates. He was a deadly fast bowler in his times who could still move the ball in both the directions without compromising his speed. Donald also has huge experience of English Cricket having played for Warwickshire for 13 years. He had infact started to play for Warwickshire much before he could make his debut for South Africa which was primarily because of the sporting ban put on his country for several years. Donald had taken more than 500 wickets for Warwickshire, he also played a season for Worcestershire.

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