Cricket's exciting moments - Recalling the Donald-Atherton Duel of 1998 - Opinion
Test matches between England and South Africa have always been exciting contests. Both teams have given their cricket fans plenty of excitement in a format that was considered to have been sold out years ago. For the aesthetic sense, nothing seems to be
overwhelming as compared to a barrage of bouncers deployed by South African pacers, which are fended off with precision by the English batsmen. One such duel that stands out in terms of ferocity, aggression and passion was the one between England’s most astute
batsman and the fastest bowler in the world at that time.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 was bowling to Michael Atherton of England in the fourth of five Tests in the 1998 season. The series was an adrenaline charged one and South Africa was leading the series. This was an all important Test match, given that victory
here would give the Proteas an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Alan Donald who was already bowling with fierce tenacity, sent a barrage of fast, throat piercing bouncers to the English batsman. Yet it was not until a slight moment of controversy in the
match that the speedster from Bloemfontein stung himself into action.
After a probable nick off the bat that the South African’s were sure of, the umpire gave Mike Atherton not out off Donald's bowling. The cool and prudent Atherton decided not to walk out of his own discretion, which lead to vehement scorn from his opponents.
That decision by Atherton, triggered one of the most devastating spells of fast bowling that has been seen on English soil.
Donald switched to around the wicket, only for his opposite number to be mesmerized by his approach and stride towards the wicket. Donald unleashed a barrage of bouncers which almost kissed the grill of Atherton’s helmet. Chirping from the likes of Jonty
Rhodes and skipper Hansie Cronje added to Atherton’s discomfort as he struggled to keep himself afloat. The sun was setting in the evening session and the ball looked smaller and smaller from a distance as Donald turned and ran in for another vicious delivery.
Atherton managed to nick a few through the vacant slip cordon to get some consolatory boundaries at the start of his innings, but since that controversy, he only managed to place the ball just short of the desperate fielders. Deliveries were bowled at his
hip, his throat, and his arms, all prompting him to take evasive action. The momentary stare in disillusion at Donald’s blood thirsty eyes made way for understandable apprehension about what might be next. Another delivery got Atherton into an awful tangle
which elicited a massive appeal from the raging South Africans. Donald was distraught, the crowd was hissing, purring and roaring with excitement and Atherton was left stranded yet unscathed. Donald was bowling at 90 Miles per hour and he made sure that Atherton
knew it.
Short legs were employed by skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MV-Boucher-c2048 dropped a much needed catch. The poor wicket keeper dropped
a difficult chance only for Donald to be roaring and fuming in anger. Boucher was quickly consoled by his team mates who signified the unity in the South African cricket team. Atherton had survived and Donald was gutted. The next over was to be bowled by Paul
Adams as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 eased to victory in the very next day.
That duel was the most compelling encounter in the history of Test Cricket since the 1981 over between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Andrew-Atherton-c75750, quite another.
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