Allan Donald Takes on a New Challenge with Joburg Super Kings

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-22

Joburg Super Kings have found their new bowling coach, and it's a name that South African cricket fans know well. Former fast bowler Allan Donald is taking the job for the SA20 2027 season. The franchise confirmed the move on Tuesday, October 13. It's a smart hire for a team still hunting its first title. Donald brings decades of experience on and off the field, and he knows what it takes to build a bowling attack that can win under pressure. ### Donald Joins Albie Morkel's Coaching Group at JSK Donald will work alongside head coach Albie Morkel, who took charge after Stephen Fleming stepped down following the 2026 season. The 59-year-old takes over the bowling coach role from Eric Simons, who is moving to Fleming's support staff in England. Donald retired from playing in 2004 and has spent most of the years since in coaching roles. Super Kings have not won an SA20 title in the four seasons played so far. The bowling department will now operate under him as the team chases its first trophy. In other words, there's a clear goal here. Donald isn't just filling a seat. He's being brought in to fix a problem and push this team over the line. ### Donald's Coaching Record Across International and Franchise Cricket His résumé speaks for itself. Donald started coaching in 2007, when he served as a temporary bowling consultant for the England team. He spent time with Warwickshire in 2008 and then joined New Zealand as their bowling coach for the 2011 World Cup. He moved to South Africa in July of that year under Gary Kirsten and stayed with the national side until the 2015 World Cup. In the IPL, Donald has worked with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and with Pune Warriors India, a franchise that no longer exists. He also coached Kent in the County Championship and later worked with the Bangladesh national team as a fast bowling coach. That's a lot of different dressing rooms, a lot of different bowling attacks. And that kind of variety tends to make a coach more adaptable. ### JSK Support Staff Changes and SA20 2027 Schedule Super Kings made two more changes to their staff alongside the Donald announcement. Former wicketkeeper-batter Pierre de Bruyn has joined as fielding coach and will reunite with Morkel, with whom he worked at Titans and Namibia. Evan Speechly will take over as physiotherapist from Tommy Simsek. On the playing side, the franchise brought back former captain Faf du Plessis for R 2.7 million at the recent SA20 auction. That's roughly $145,000. It also paid R 2.9 million, or about $156,000, for uncapped allrounder Jason Rowles. Kieron Pollard, Blessing Muzarabani, Andries Gous and Dayyaan Galiem joined the squad as well. The squad for the new season also includes Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, James Vince, Rilee Rossouw and Leus du Plooy. Jamie Overton is part of the group as a wildcard signing. > "Coaching is about getting the best out of people, not just teaching them how to bowl." That's the kind of thinking Donald has carried through every stop in his career. The fifth edition of the SA20 begins on January 17, 2027, at St George's Park in Gqeberha. The opening match will be a rematch of the 2026 final between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Pretoria Capitals. The league will end with the final on February 21 in Cape Town. For Joburg Super Kings, the clock is already ticking. Donald has a few months to settle in, assess his bowlers, and figure out what this attack needs. If he can do for JSK what he's done elsewhere, that first title might finally be within reach.