The former Proteas and Free State fast bowler, Donald, will be working with the Knights young seamers, and more specifically with Gerald Coetzee and the Jansen twins, Marco and Duan.

The left-arm seamers, Marco and Duan, are both only 19 years old, while Gerald only turning 19 in October.

This the departure of Duanne Olivier, who took up a Kolpak contract in England and the retirement of Ryan McLaren, the Knights experience in the fast bowling department is on the thin side.

Coetzee and Marco have both made their senior debuts for the Knights during the T20 Challenge earlier in the year. However, they have both played less than a handful of games. The knowledge and wisdom Donald can share with the trio and other bowlers will be invaluable during the 2019/20 domestic season.

Donald told OFM Sport that he is looking forward to taking the youngster under his wing.

“I spoke to Pite van Biljon (captain) and Johan van Heerden (CEO) the other day, and they were quite keen for me to pop over and spend a month in Bloemies as from early October.

“Look, I’ve heard about these three guys and I think that it is very exciting. Gerald Coetzee has had a taste of U19 international cricket, and the twins, I’ve also heard a lot about them. They are all very tall guys and I think that is very impressive that we have these three youngsters here in Bloemfontein.

“For me, I just like this sort of thing and I just like hearing about players like this. I’ve seen a little of Gerald Coetzee, but not enough yet.

“I’m very excited to be coming to back to Bloemfontein and spending a bit time and working alongside Pite and the coach Alan Kruger. I’m excited to see what we have got.

“It will be good to be a part of the group a little bit as well and to see how things operate. I’m looking forward to meeting up with the boys again. I haven’t been back to Bloem for a couple of years now, so I am very excited about it.

“I think I should be a lot of fun. I’m always a stickler for new talent. I’ve heard so much about them. Dillon du Preez spoke to me about them a little the other day, so I’m super stoked to have been asked to come and work with them.”

Last week Donald became just the third South Africa and first from the Free State to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Game.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport