Donald sensibly did not make the journey from the team's hotel in Worthing, where he went through his daily stretching routine. His flexibility - he can do the splits - is unique among modern fast bowlers, but like all of them, he is susceptible to injury.

Coach Bob Woolmer confirmed Donald had a few niggles after Edgbaston one of them his ankle - and it was sensible not to risk him here. ``You never know what might happen to a fast bowler in this sort of game,'' mused Woolmer yesterday.

``All he needs is to rediscover his rhythm, and I thought he looked to have found some in that workout he had on the square in the lunchbreak of the first day.''

Hansie Cronje admitted that concerns about burn-out had been the reason for the resting of Donald and Shaun Pollock, despite their waywardness at Edgbaston.

``We've been playing international cricket virtually non-stop since last September, and it's a question of finding the right balance between rest and work,'' said South Africa's captain. ``I can't believe that they'll bowl at Lord's like they did at Edgbaston. In their three years together, that was the first time I can recall where things went wrong like they did.

``But there are other bowlers in the team and they have an important part to play. I was very pleased with Paul Adams in the first Test. He has improved so much after the problems he had a couple of years ago and is showing he can perform two different roles if required.'' Predictably, neither Cronje nor Woolmer were prepared to be drawn on selection matters for Lord's.

``We'll have to have a look at the wicket first,'' said Cronje. If a second spinner is brought in at the expense of Lance Klusener, Brian McMillan's chances of coming in for Gerhardus Liebenberg would be enhanced. Jacques Kallis would then open.

Kallis's experience with Middlesex could prove invaluable. ``Jacques's been telling the guys who haven't batted there before that they've got to be careful not to fall over themselves at the pavilion end because of the slope,'' Cronje said.