It was sad to see Allan Donald limp out of Test cricket following his pulled hamstring against Australia in the 1st Test but the joy (and sometimes fear) he brought to the game will linger long in the memory.

I was lucky enough to play with him for seven years at Warwickshire, the last two of those as his captain, and he was a wonderful man and model professional. He was always more concerned about the team performance than individual stats and, as the overseas pro, he set a brilliant example to all the other lads.

Because he was such a team man he encouraged all the other players to do really well and he would lift them through his own 100 per cent attitude. He would always try and give you another over even if he was tired.

I reckon he was at his best for Warwickshire in 1995 when we won the County Championship for the second year running. He was brilliant throughout the whole season, taking 89 wickets at 16.07 and bowling at lightning pace. Not many other overseas quick bowlers would get through more than 500 overs, as he did that season.

There was a spell against Derbyshire with two games to go in the championship and he bowled a ferocious late evening spell at Chris Adams and Adrian Rollins. It was rapid and such a brilliant spell at a crucial stage, but he turned in performances like that day-in day-out for us.

He was also a clever bowler. I remember one game when we were playing against Northants and he had a stiff back so I told him not to bowl 100 per cent, to take it easy and don't bowl an effort ball every ball. He came out and slowed down a bit and he swung it, and swung it late, and I always remember that as the time he showed there was so much more to him than just express pace.

Of course, he also proved his talent on the international stage for South Africa and I think he was the No 1 pace bowler in the world throughout the 1990s. He was such a wonderful bowler to watch with his smooth and rhythmic action.

Although he was nicknamed "White Lightning" we called him the "Bloemfontein Rocket" in our dressing room because he was such an athlete, very supple and strong. A wonderful man and an absolute delight to captain.

He was very pro-active and a great example to the rest of the lads on the fitness side. It was great to have someone there leading the warm down at the end of the day and he always took great care of his body. He would make sure he got two pints of water in him before he had a beer at the end of the day and he really took to the sports science side of things which was good.

He always played the game hard but had a smile on his face. He loved the battle and he was great to captain or just play with as a team-mate because he was a real 100 per-center. But he was never big headed and arrogant. He was very amiable and got on with the rest of the team. He never thought of himself as a superstar.

Fortunately I only played against him on a couple of occasions but on one of those, the 1992 World Cup semi-final at Sydney in Australia, Chris Lewis and I managed to whack him for 20 off the final over. I got a couple of consecutive fours and it proved crucial in the end but that was my one good moment against him, getting him back for facing him in the nets. It was a rare triumph.

But most of all I remember Allan as a superb bowler, a wonderful man and a privilege to captain. I wish him all the best in the future.

27 Feb, 2002