Australia's new bowling coach says taking advantage of new ball, reverse swing are keys in subcontinent
Donald targets reverse for SL tour
Taking the mysterious art of reverse swing bowling to another level is high on the agenda of Australia's new bowling coach Allan Donald.
The legendary South Africa fast bowler was today unveiled as Australia's interim bowling coach for the Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka this winter.
The 49-year-old played 72 Tests for South Africa, including 14 against Australia, and will fill the void left by Craig McDermott who departed at the conclusion of the World T20.
While Australia's Test record away from home has been an area of concern for Darren Lehmann's men, they have not lost a Test series in Sri Lanka in 17 years.
But Donald knows the challenges his new pace artillery will face on the barren, coarse pitches of the subcontinent.
Quick Single: Lehmann welcomes Donald into the fold
And the new bowling coach is preparing to upgrade his charges' weaponry to maintain Australia's impressive winning streak.
"It doesn't matter where you play in the subcontinent – India and Sri Lanka and wherever it may be – I think from a Test match point of view it's using that new ball and using it really well, trying to maximise that new ball and I think being very disciplined," Donald told cricket.com.au.
"Then you take the conditions, not only the pith conditions, but also the heat the players have got to deal with, the humidity, that sort of the thing.
"Reverse swing is massive in the subcontinent. I've played enough against (Pakistan swing kings) Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis (to know) what it takes, what sort of skill it takes and what sort of patience and discipline it takes to be able to execute that.
"That's going to be a massive key.
"Having played against them (Wasim and Waqar) and listening to how they speak, I want to take reverse swing to another level in terms of how to implement it.
"Australia have done it pretty well but there's a lot more to it and a lot more skill that can be taken a lot further in terms of the art of reverse swing.
"That for me is going to be a massive skill over there, winning away from home and being able to take 20 wickets there."
Donald is no stranger to coaching quick bowlers at the highest level.
Since retiring in 2003, Donald has at been the bowling coach for England, New Zealand and South Africa, and is currently the bowling mentor for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.
Despite his pedigree and high regard in the coaching field, the man known as 'White Lightning' said he was surprised when he was approached about the role last month.
"When Boof asked me in Cape Town after the Twenty20 game I didn't expect that at all to be honest," he said.
"I'm really looking forward to working with some of the very, very fine fast bowlers that Australia are producing, not to mention (Mitchell) Starc and the rest.
"You can't sit down and say 'what am I going to try and do', it's just about trying to get to know these guys better for a period of time and do what I can to help these guys.
"The thing for me as an international cricketer who played cricket a lot against Australia, there was a lot of respect for the way the Australians play their cricket.
"There's no hesitation, it's always giving it a crack, always willing to take a risk to give it a crack.
"It's something I've always prided myself on as a bowler as well.
"I think that positive energy will help to get that across to some of the young guys in this Australian attack."
While the search for the full-time bowling coach is still on, Donald said he would "love" to work Lehmann and the Australians beyond Sri Lanka.
"There's no question about it ... I'd love to work with Boof and his team without a shadow of a doubt," Donald said.
"At the moment it just an opportunity for me to come in and spend some in the Australian culture.
"I know what the Australian culture has been for so long and I've enjoyed it as a cricketer.
"So being part of that now is something very special for me and very humbling.
"If it does happen to be a long-term thing then I would absolutely love to do that.
"We'll take it small steps at a time and see how that goes."
Australian allrounder Mitchell Marsh, who has come on in leaps and bounds as a Test bowler, has worked with Donald in the IPL in the past and is looking forward reconnecting his former coach.
"It’s very exciting for us as a young bowling group," Marsh told cricket.com.au.
"Whilst we’ve got some world-class bowlers in our line-up we’ve still got a lot of young bowlers who have a lot to learn.
"Working with someone like Allan Donald will be great for us as a bowling unit.
"He’ll fit into our whole set-up very well. He’s a good man and very well respected."