Defining moments of 98: Mike Atherton V Allan Donald (27 December 1998)
IT WAS not quite 'the rumble in the jungle'
27-Dec-1998
27 December 1998
Defining moments of 98: Mike Atherton V Allan Donald
By Angus Fraser
IT WAS not quite 'the rumble in the jungle'. It was more like an
unstoppable force coming up against an immovable object.
No, I am not talking about my nought not out at Old Trafford last
summer but a more equal contest that took place in the following
Test at Trent Bridge between probably the best fast bowler in the
world, Allan Donald, and one of the best opening batsmen, Mike
Atherton.
In an intense summer of cricket, this quite comfortably proved to
be the most exhilarating passage of play between England and
South Africa. It was a contest that, had it been lost, would most
probably have changed the fortunes of our summer. It had been a
quiet Sunday until then. England had bowled well and worked
themselves into a winning position. All we needed now was for our
batsmen to go out and knock off the runs we required. Then we
could all relax and enjoy some bubbly.
For once it was going to plan. Yes, we had lost Mark Butcher
earlier than we would have liked but Atherton and Nasser Hussain
had got themselves in and were looking pretty comfortable. In an
attempt to break this threatening stand, Hansie Cronje, the South
African captain, once again threw the ball to his fastest, most
dangerous and best bowler - Donald. "Oh no, he's on again" said
Darren Gough. As usual, he was the only one prepared to say what
everybody else was thinking.
"Christ, that were quick, that would have cleaned me up," are the
next words of wisdom from our shy Yorkshireman as we all twist
our heads to look at the speedometer which tells us the last ball
was bowled at 88mph. And this before 'the incident'.
Then it happened. Donald bowled a shortish ball that bounced,
then hit a part of Mike Atherton's protective gear that shall
remain nameless and went through to the keeper, who took the
catch. The South African team went up and the umpire said 'not
out.'
Sometimes, as a batsman, you can placate a fast bowler by
blocking him, just pushing the odd single and then playing and
missing a few times. There are, however, certain things that do
get a bowler's back up and get the adrenalin going. This was
definitely one of them. As a bowler it is pointless having a go
at an umpire as 1) it will cost you money and 2) you are even
less likely to get a borderline decision next time round. So who
is the bloke who is going to receive the brunt of your
frustrations? Yes, the batsman.
This Athers did for the next hour as Donald produced one of the
most hostile spells of bowling seen in England for a long, long
time. For you it may have been great to watch, pure theatre. For
me, still with the possibility of having to face the music,
watching it was like being in a horror movie. Balls were
whistling past people's noses, gestures were being made and the
odd word was exchanged. Particularly by their vocal wicketkeeper.
This chat stopped when he dropped a straightforward chance
offered by Hussain. Both he and Athers then had great pleasure in
suggesting Mark Boucher concentrated on his game.
Even the Yorkshireman had gone quiet now. But survive they did
and immense credit must go to Athers and Nasser (yes, Hussain was
there too and an easy way to wind him up now is to talk about
that afternoon and not mention his involvement).
As a simple bowler who thinks that generally the game is against
me there are times when I look at what goes on on a cricket field
and say "perhaps my job is not that bad after all". This was
definitely one of them.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)