ALLAN Donald has hinted at a future return to the Lancashire League.

The world's fastest bowler, player of the tournament in the last World Cup, has proved a major hit in East Lancashire.

Last weekend, against championship rivals East Lancs, he passed the 100-wicket milestone with a five-wicket blitz, including that of opposite number and fellow South African Billy Stelling, who is coming back next summer after agreeing terms for a second season at Alexandra Meadows.

And, despite Rishton being a weaker batting side, by consensus, than last summer, Donald has spearheaded the Blackburn Road attack to establish his team as overwhelming favourites to retain the title at The Horsfield tomorrow.

Little wonder he regards his season here as an unqualified success.

And he will contemplate a comeback - though not in the foreseeable future. "I will take back a lot of memories to South Africa, the most cherished being that we won the league," said Donald, confident Rishton can secure at least the single point they require tomorrow against Ben Johnson's Colne.

"It's been a wonderful experience and I would definitely send batters over to play in this league to teach them how to play on slow wickets.

"My batting, I think, has benefited.

"I've learned to be patient and to wait for the ball to come on.

"Bowling-wise, conditions and footholds have obviously not been what I'm used to.

"I thought the slower ball would work better but I quickly found the line and length to bowl in this league - you've got to get that ball right up there for it to swing. "The yorker has worked better than anything else.

"The wickets are not conducive to just banging in a quick ball.

"And it's taught me to release the ball later.

"I will definitely consider coming back here but that will be at least four or five years down the road."

Donald wants to concentrate in the short term on confirming himself as one of South Africa's finest-ever bowlers and the best in his era.

The magic 200-wicket mark in the international arena is his next objective and also to lead Warwickshire to further trophy success before finishing with his first class career.

But, while he may then reappear on the wickets of East Lancashire, he does not leave without making some criticisms. Prominent among these are some of the archaic rules implemented under bad weather conditions.

"They are farcical," blasted Donald.

"If the wicket is wet and unplayable, matches should be cancelled.

"I've come across pitches we've had to play on which, in reality, required a couple of days for them to be sufficiently dried out."

He is much less critical of the general standard of Lancashire League players.

"The amateurs are well capable of handling themselves," he suggested.

"There are some good batters and the overall standard is quite good."

Donald, who turns 30 next month, rates his seven for 18 against Haslingden as his best display of the season.

Ironically, the return match at Bentgate was Rishton's worst. "All seven wickets were bowled against one of the league's top sides and that was the highlight for me of the whole six months," he said.

"Of course the second fixture is my worst memory of the summer by a long way.

"When you require only 12 more runs and have eight wickets in hand you expect to win, not lose."

The possibility of losing tomorrow to Colne is not a scenario Donald will entertain.

He insists Rishton's strategy will be the same as that employed against East Lancs last week - to strive for the bonus point they need but, more importantly, to push for one final win.

"Bowling Colne out will be enough but it's important we don't go into the game counting on that," said Donald.

"Our mind-set must be to play to win.

"We should show the same hunger and desire we did against East Lancs.

"We're playing against a guy in very fine form and Colne are not to be underestimated. "Ben Johnson is the man to get at.

"He's obviously not scared - he's a gutsy, typically gritty Australian.

"It could be a good contest."

Meanwhile, news of Stelling's return should boost East Lancs as they go into their final game against Haslingden knowing that nothing less than five points will do - and even then it might not be enough.

Stelling hasn't actually put pen to paper but confirmed everything had been agreed for next season.

"The season has gone very quickly but it has been very enjoyable," said Stelling.

"And I think I will enjoy next year even more." The pro wasn't happy about last weekend's decision to abandon the game at Rishton so close to the deadline, as that could now prove crucial.

"I don't think Rishton would have come back from that position," he added.

"Now we have a difficult game against Haslingden, who are a very good side, and I don't think Rishton will lose to Colne - unless Ben Johnson does something special.

"I hope he gets 150!"

Ramsbottom still have a chance of snatching the Holland Cup if East Lancs slip up, but they face a difficult game against Todmorden.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Burnley v Accrington, Church v Bacup, Colne v Rishton, East Lancs v Haslingden, Enfield v Lowerhouse, Ramsbottom v Todmorden, Rawtenstall v Nelson.

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