South Africa fretting over bowlers, says Donald

Allan Donald, the former South African fast bowler, has expressed concern over South Africa's ability to seriously trouble England's batsmen. As the series shifts to a five-match one-day series ahead of the bigger picture, Donald has offered an insight into the home team's mindset by saying that coach Mickey Arthur's bullish words hide worries.

After the second Twenty20 in Centurion, which South Africa won by 84 runs, Arthur termed England as "predictable" and called "criminal" the manner in which Adil Rashid was bowled for one solitary over that went for 25 runs. Donald's comments, however, have indicated that the South African management was actually concerned about their bowlers.

"The one massive thing for us - and this is a worry for Mickey Arthur - is the South Africa bowling attack. Mickey is really concerned they won't take 20 wickets," he said. "It is the back-up bowlers he is worried about, there is too much of the same [type of bowling] and that is a concern.

There are concerns in the South African team. You can see that [Graeme] Smith is worried and that Arthur is concerned about his bowling attack. They are not where they should be confidence-wise and the vibes I'm picking up are that they are a concerned side.

"I think the South Africa attack is a bit weaker than England's. The England attack is a nose in front with tall bowlers, guys who can make the ball talk, guys who bowl heavy lengths."

Donald rated England as tough competitors for South Africa, the No. 1 Test side in the world, and said the home side could not afford to underestimate the opposition. "I think England have a real chance in the Test series. As a South African I'm concerned about the England Test team," he said. "I quietly watched them practice in Bloemfontein and I think they feel they can do this. The English Test team is a worry for me.

"They [South Africa] went to sleep after winning in Australia, had two weeks off and got out of the blocks far too slowly in the return series. They cannot afford to do the same against England."