Bull ring is not for faint hearts

Allan Donald's late inclusion for the first cricket Test against England has a touch of psychology about it. His mere presence on the field contains a strong element of intimidation.

Donald in the team adds menace to what is already an unnerving experience for some of the England batsmen who are still wet behind the ears as far as Test cricket is concerned.

Michael Vaughan, batting at Number Four and at 25 just a year older than Jacques Kallis, is playing his first Test. Chris Adams, already 29, is only now making his Test debut. Andrew Flintoff will play his first Test outside England.

The three tenderfoots occupy key positions in England's batting order. And they take their bows on one of the most terrifying stages of world cricket - the Wanderers bull ring.

The Wanderers is like a modern-day Colosseum. The towering stands are steep and imposing. Even though the crowd was sparse on Thursday, it must still have been claustrophobic for a young man making his first foray into Test cricket.

And throw in an Allan Donald running in from the Corlett Drive end...

He was struggling with a side strain this week, but all he needs in this Test is to find his rhythm and - bingo! - he'll suddenly be all right. It might take a bit of time, but it's all about bowling overs. Just as a batsman needs time at the crease, a bowler needs to get in his overs.

He may be a year older since the last time he faced England in a Test, injuries may bedevil him, but Donald is on the brink of his life's ambition - 300 wickets in Test cricket. So far he has 268. He will be looking for some of the missing 32 in this series.

It's enough to put the wind up the bravest player.

Not that England are about to be frightened rabbits caught in headlights. Their batting might rest heavily on Michael Atherton, Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain, but their bowling attack does not have to stand back for South Africa's.

Darren Gough, Andy Caddick and Allan Mullally present the frontline - but England have good back-up bowlers in Scotsman Gavin Hamilton or Phil Tufnell.

The pitch looked slower than a normal Wanderers wicket. There is enough moisture just below the surface to suggest that the early bounce may balloon a little.

More rain was expected on Thursday, which, with the humidity, will help the bowlers get some swing through the air and movement off the pitch.

That was why I expected the captain winning the toss to send in the opposition.

I also expected David Terbrugge to be selected ahead of Paul Adams in the South African team - all because Kallis is unable to bowl.

The reason is that Lance Klusener, the back-up seamer, can sometimes be a little wayward and expensive as a result. For that reason Hansie Cronje will need someone who can keep it tight at one end when his two fast bowlers rest.

England were expected to leave out Tufnell for Hamilton, and have Vaughan provide a bit of variation with his off-spin.

With the bowling nicely balanced, this Test, for once, could be decided by the batting. Here South Africa have the edge.

Gary Kirsten was in confident mood on Wednesday, even raising the possibility of a cigar and champagne to follow a Test century.

Herschelle Gibbs, however, has only recently returned from injury and he failed against North West.

But any vulnerability in South Africa's top order is compensated by a long tail, in which Mark Boucher, scorer of two Test centuries, comes in only at Number Nine.

The hype on this match concerned Donald and Atherton - but the drama could happen just about anywhere.