Defining moments of 98: Mike Atherton V Allan Donald (27 December 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 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk)

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Players/Umpires

Mike Atherton

Allan Donald