England’s red-ball cricket setup is shaking things up, bringing back a familiar face to sort out their fast bowling. Allan Donald, the legendary South African pace bowler, has rejoined the national team as a specialist fast bowling consultant.
This move, announced by the ECB this January, signals a determined push to stabilize England’s pace attack ahead of a brutal 2026-27 schedule, including another Ashes series against Australia. And it comes as England’s “Bazball” era needs its bowlers to match the batters’ aggression.
“White Lightning” Returns to Sharpen England’s Edge
Donald, 59, is a name synonymous with hostile, high-pace bowling. He took 330 Test wickets for South Africa. More importantly for England, he was the pace coach during their iconic 2005 Ashes triumph. That series, a famous 2-1 victory over Australia, saw Donald mentor a fearsome attack. Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, and Matthew Hoggard all performed under his guidance, ending 16 years of Australian dominance.
England’s current head coach, Brendon McCullum, is clear on what Donald brings. “Allan’s a genius with fast bowlers,” McCullum told Sky Sports. “His work in 2005 turned boys into men—Harmy, Hoggy, Freddie. We need that fire for the Ashes. He’s not here to babysit; he’s here to ignite.”
The need for this expertise is pressing. Since McCullum took over in May 2022, England has used 17 fast bowlers in Tests. Only Chris Woakes has maintained consistent high-level form, averaging 21.78. Injuries have sidelined key talents like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood. Ollie Robinson has faced form and fitness concerns. Donald’s focus? High-pace mentoring, getting bowlers consistently over 140kph. His role is consultancy-based, not full-time, working alongside pace coach Neil Killeen and fast bowling mentor James Anderson. Anderson himself knows Donald well. “Allan’s the best I’ve worked with,” Anderson told The Telegraph. “In 2023 Ashes, his sessions transformed my reverse swing. For the young guns, it’s gold. 2005 vibes are back.”
A Busy Schedule and Strategic Intent
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) made the official announcement on January 15, 2026. The ECB official site statement highlighted Donald’s “unparalleled experience.” His return covers the 2026 home summer, which means series against Zimbabwe in May and Sri Lanka in July. But the big one, of course, is preparation for the Australia Ashes, set for November 2026 to March 2027.
ECB performance director David Clarke stressed the strategic nature of the appointment. “Allan’s return is strategic,” Clarke mentioned on BBC Sport. “We’ve got pace potential in Josh Tongue, Saqib Mahmood, and emerging talents, but consistency is key. His 2005 blueprint—workload management, mental toughness—remains relevant.”
Donald himself said, “It’s an honour to return. 2005 was magical; we bowled with heart and hostility. England’s got raw pace—Wood, Archer if fit, Tongue hitting 90mph. I’ll focus on repeatability under pressure. Bazball batting excites me; now the bowlers must match it.”
This isn’t Donald’s first time back since 2005. He consulted England briefly during the 2021 India tour and the 2023 Ashes. Those short stints clearly left a positive impression on the current setup.
Early Returns and Future Hopes
Donald wasted no time getting to work. He arrived at ECB’s Pennyhill Park base on January 19 for initial player assessments. Early reports from ESPNcricinfo indicate he’s already working with talents like Josh Tongue, who’s been out with injuries, and Gus Atkinson. Saqib Mahmood, recovering from a back stress fracture, reportedly clocked 148kph in nets. That’s encouraging speed. His role is strictly red-ball cricket, no white-ball formats.
The cost for this experience? Apparently, it’s £250,000 for consultancy, according to The Times. Fans seem happy about the move. #DonaldReturns trended on X, generating 50,000 posts. But some critics, like former ECB chair Ian Watmore, called it “wise but not transformative.”
As of January 21, 2026, Donald is fully integrated. The first squad announcement for the Zimbabwe series is coming February 1. England’s pace stocks include Woakes, Wood (on managed workload), Robinson (with those overweight concerns McCullum mentioned), and uncapped players like John Turner.
Australia has dominated the Ashes since 2005, leading 16-6. England’s goal for 2026 Test series: a bowling average below 30 and five or more bowlers consistently hitting above 140kph. It’s a tall order, but Donald’s return might just be the spark they need.
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