Tigers lacked creativity: Donald

In their current beleaguered state, Bangladesh bowlers have a shining example in how to take wickets in the very city where they will play the second ODI today. One of the all-time great fast bowlers, former South Africa speedster Allan Donald, was sympathetic to the Bangladesh bowlers' plight and had some words of advice on how to avoid a repeat of the punishment during multiple century and double-century partnerships on tour so far, culminating in Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock's record 282-run stand in the first ODI.

"With absolute respect, I could see it happen when they come here," Donald told The Daily Star when asked about Bangladesh's bowling performance in the two Tests and the first ODI, during which they have managed to take just 13 wickets, one of which was a runout. "For me, Bangladesh didn't show any creativity in their thinking on the field -- someone taking charge. I know there wasn't Shakib Al Hasan, he's a big leader on the field. The captain [Mushfiqur Rahim in the Tests] is a very respected captain, but also, how can he tell his bowlers that you've got to try this and try that -- it's got to come from someone. That's the one thing that they lack."

He recalled how his one-time captain and good friend, the late Hansie Cronje, wanted the bowlers to be proactive and think out of the box. "He would often say to us:  'You've got to come up with a plan. So if I am standing there and if I haven't bowled for eight overs, then I need some feedback. Let's share information quickly. What he enjoyed more was guys asking for the ball, not just say 'I'll come and have a bowl'. That leadership needs to come from your senior fast men. That is something you grow into. If you don't fancy it you will never become a leader on the field.

When asked how he went about breaking partnerships in his heyday, he said it all had to do with not letting the batsmen settle. "When I talk about creativity, it's being able to reverse the ball from over and around, setting really silly fields and making batsmen have a look all the time," said Donald. "Just so the batsmen [can] never second-guess you [in] what you are going to do. And so we were always changing fields, always being clever in creating pressure -- one guy will bowl short, full, short, full. Just two guys at the same time, just go bouncer, short. Just to try and spark something.

"The game slows down so much quicker. Here it doesn't slow down. They've got a very, very good man as a bowling coach in the changing room, Courtney Walsh, who probably has said all these things."