Johannesburg, June 20 (IANS) Allan Donald, with his raw pace, rattled the best of batsmen in his heydays and now as the South African bowling coach he expects the same from the current lot.
Donald, one of South Africa's most dreaded fast bowlers, wants the current and future crop of bowlers to be "cocky and arrogant in all the right ways" even when they are training at the nets.
"The training ground is meant to be the most hostile," Donald was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
"That is where it must all happen so when the captain goes in the match, he will be absolutely sure of what everyone can give him."
Donald, while talking about South Africa's pace spearhead Dale Steyn and his opening bowler Morne Morkel, said they technically might be as sound as anyone but there is always scope for working with the bowlers' mindset and that also includes the ones who are waiting in the wings.
"It starts with the A team. That's where the message must get across so that the players aren't scared and know what international cricket is about."
Donald's first assignment will be the A team tour to Zimbabwe later this week. The team is scheduled to take part in the ODI tri-series which includes the hosts and Australia A. This means that Donald has started his work earlier than newly-appointed coach Gary Kirsten.
Donald gave the reason of hitting the ground running with the A team as he wants to create a wide pool of fast bowlers.
"I want the younger guys to punch a hole into the line up and not just sit and wait for their turn," he said.
Donald was the coach of the New Zealand team before taking up the role in the national side. The 44-year-old said he was impressed the most with Tim Southee, who he thinks has the potential to become the best swing bowler in the world.
"He (Southee) is such a talented guy. We were working on some other variations to his bowling which I hope he develops. What people don't know about him is that he can hit a cricket ball a very long way. He has the skills to become a very good all-rounder," he said.