Allan Donald

The athletic South African arrived in England in 1987, unknown and unannounced. The surprise choice as "second" overseas man was quick but raw and it took a year or two to see potential convert to achievement. Happily, Warwickshire stuck with Donald and at his county retirement in 2000 he was regarded as one of the best of all overseas imports. His first-class county record, 536 wickets, average 20.82 was highly impressive, his 245 limited overs wickets, at 19.09 almost equally so. A superb sight when flat out at his peak he was like a knife through butter. Even those able to fend him off could not score and as for the celebrities who skuttled off to square leg... The first South African to take 300 Test wickets is rightly revered as a Warwickshire "Great".