Cricket: Donald rediscovers the feel-good factor: Rain cuts play and crowd at start of first Test between South Africa and Australia since 1970

Australia 71-2 v South Africa

ALLAN DONALD, named in the South African Test side after being left out of the one-day international last week, had to wait until late

afternoon to make his point on the opening day of the first Test against Australia in Melbourne yesterday.

After rain delayed the start until 5pm, Donald worked up a lively pace during two menacing spells and was eventually rewarded with the wicket of Michael Slater, who made 32 and had helped put on 57 for the first wicket with Mark Taylor.

Only one more run was added before his pace bowling partner, Fanie de Villiers, marked his Test debut with the wicket of the nightwatchman, Shane Warne, for nought, trapping him leg before. Australia had reached 71 for 2 by the close with Taylor unbeaten on 30.

'Since the tour started I have never felt good but the first ball I bowled today just felt magnificent,' Donald said. 'It just continued from there and now we have to go out and bowl in the same disciplined way on Monday. The ball is swinging and there is a nice carry and bounce in the wicket.'

Slater survived two chances during Donald's opening spell of six overs before falling in the first over of his second stint. Beaten for pace, Slater edged the ball on to his thigh pad to give Gary Kirsten a simple catch at short leg.

Donald, left out for the limited-overs match against New Zealand last week because of indifferent form, immediately found his rhythm after the Australian captain, Allan Border, won the toss and elected to bat.

The weather reduced the attendance at the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground to 15,604. Australian Cricket Board officials had predicted a holiday crowd of 75,000 to watch the first Test between the two nations since 1970.

First day: Australia won toss

AUSTRALIA - First Innings

M A Taylor not out 30

M J Slater c Kirsten b Donald 32

S K Warne lbw b de Villiers 0

D C Boon not out 4

Extras (b2 lb1 nb2) 5

Total (for 2) 71

Fall: 1-57 2-58.

To bat: M E Waugh, *A R Border, D R Martyn, I A Healy, P R Reiffel, T B A May, C J McDermott.

Bowling: Donald 9-1-21-1, de Villiers 9-1-30-1, Matthews 6-2-6-0, Cronje 5-3-11-0.

SOUTH AFRICA: *K C Wessels, A C Hudson, W J Cronje, D J Cullinan, J N Rhodes, G Kirsten, D J Richardson, P L Symcox, C R Matthews, P S de Villiers, A A Donald.