Donald out of fourth Test against West Indies

Donald is suffering from a strained left hamstring and if captain Hansie Cronje and physio Craig Smith are to believed, short of a miraculous recovery over the next 24 hours, the 32-year-old paceman's Test is over.

Cronje is not one for shouting the odds but on Monday he conceded that at 91-3 in their second innings and with an overall lead of 285 runs his side were in a very good position to make it four successive test wins over a demoralised West Indian side.

``Yes, we are in a good position,'' he told SAPA news agency.

``But it's going to be hard work without Allan Donald. He's a key member of our attack and unfortunately I think we are going to be without him,'' Cronje added.

Cronje left the door ajar by adding that a lot was dependent on how quickly the physio could get Donald right.

``But that at this stage it's a race against time,'' the South African skipper said.

``Maybe, at a push,'' said Smith, who would prefer to have his charge fit and ready for the fifth Test at Centurion Park.

``Look, if things are looking a bit desperate and we need a couple of wickets it's just possible that he might be able to get three or four overs. But personally I would prefer it he rest,'' he added.

Donald, who limped off the field on Sunday after claiming 3-13 from five overs, gave his leg a try-out on Monday but managed to complete just one over off a shortened run-up before calling it quits.

With Donald and Curtly Ambrose out of the game life could prove a lot sweeter for the batsmen at Newlands over the next two days.

But as Cronje was quick to point out: ``There are no easy sessions in Test cricket.''

His own men discovered that Monday when, after coasting along to 31 without loss they suddenly found themselves with their backs-to-the-wall on 31-3.

``These things tend to happen when you are in a comfortable situation,'' he said. ``It's just a case of having to take stock again, refocus and keep going.''

Cronje and Jacques Kallis did the stocktaking and kept going to put on 60 for the fourth-wicket, any threat of a wholesale collapse successfully averted.

With Donald out of the fray both still have a very long Test ahead of them.

Cronje said Kallis was an integral part of the South African attack and might be called on to share the new-ball with Shaun Pollock.

``Both Jacques and David Terbrugge can do the job for us,'' he added. ``So I think its just a case of who, at the time, I feel can control the new ball.

``I'm afraid if Allan is out then all the other guys are just going to have to come to the party.''