'New Zealand cricketers have impressed me a lot' - Allan Donald names best fast bowlers currently

South Africa pace legend Allan Donald admitted that New Zealand pacers have impressed him the most in the last few years. The 54-year-old was quizzed upon various things including his early life, how he chose cricket as his career, his Test debut against West Indies and his famous on-field rivalries, during a YouTube interview with Neel Khagram of Cricket Life Stories.

On being asked about who he thinks are the best pace bowlers currently, Donald said: “It’s difficult, I must admit. If I talk about the young guys who really surprise me, it is the New Zealand cricketers. Since 2011, New Zealand have come with some guys who have really shown the world that you don’t need to have 150 [speed]. Kyle Jamieson has come from nowhere, they have [Trent] Boult, [Tim] Southee. These players have been outstanding.”

“It is a little bit concerning from the South African point of view [that they do not have as many]. Anrich Nortje was one of those. I felt this kid has got some real pace and he is going to establish himself in all the formats,” he said. “Australia has got a conveyor belt full of them [pacers].

Allan Donald recalls his conversation with Virat Kohli

During the same interaction, the 54-year-old also recalled his conversation with Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who told Donald about his passion to make India the No. 1 ranked team in the world.

“I remember Virat’s words from 2015 when he said to me ‘India will become world’s No. 1 Test team’ and he was not wrong. He knew where he was going. He said ‘I want this to be the fittest team, I want us to be the greatest team on the planet, knowing that we can play away from home, knowing that we can beat anyone. That’s going to take a very good bowling attack to do so.’

Donald, who debuted for the Proteas in 1991, bagged 330 wickets in 72 Tests and 272 wickets in 164 ODIs, also lavish praises on Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has scalped 95 wickets in 22 Tests, 108 wickets in 67 ODIs, and 59 wickets in 49 T20Is.

“Young Bumrah for me. This kid has come a long way. He has been a sensation in all formats of the game. So, there is some good stuff out there and it is fantastic to see how the bowlers adapt to different formats so quickly and so skilfully.