Ngam's promise has been blunted by injuries

The fluid action and rapier speed of the youngster had fans purring with approval and New Zealanders and Sri Lankans struggling to put bat to ball.

Ngam took 11 wickets at an average of 17 in three Test matches but promptly suffered a stress fracture - the third such injury of his career - to go with ligament damage to his right shoulder that required surgery.

The 23-year-old is currently making another slow return to fitness, but there are serious doubts as to whether he will ever again match the pace which made him such a potent weapon.

Bfore Ngam, Mornantau Hayward was trumpeted as 'the next Allan Donald'.

For a while, Hayward looked the part and was a member of the side that won a test series in India in 2000. But the following year personal problems led to a downward spiral in form.

The appointment of Kepler Wessels as high performance director at Hayward's provincial side Eastern Province is credited as the main reason for the paceman's recent return to the national set-up.

Hayward has the pace to trouble the best

But a badly mismanaged injury on his return from an encouraging tour of Australia has set him back once again.

What about Makhaya Ntini? Although Ntini started his international career very much as Donald's prot�g�, the 24 year-old is now an established presence in the squad, not as the next Allan Donald, but very much in his own right.

And much as Andre Nel may have famously clanged Donald on the head in a domestic match last year and bowls his heart out when picked, he is clearly some way short of the real deal. Ditto Charl Langeveldt.

Left-arm seamer Charl Willoughby (27) and the more orthodox Dewald Pretorius (24) have both been picked in the South African A side to play the Australians in Port Elizabeth this week.

Willoughby has already played a one-day international, hardly disgracing himself in taking 2-39 against Pakistan in Sharjah two years ago, while Pretorius is perhaps the quickest young bowler in the country.

Langevedlt has been on the fringe of the squad

National team captain Shaun Pollock rates both highly.

"Pretorius is quick and bowls close to the stumps. Willoughby is a prospect as well - he's a good swinger of the ball," Pollock told BBC Sport Online.

For a really bold gesture, the selectors might look to Garnett Kruger or Alfonso Thomas. Both are black, both are raw and untested, yet their talent is undeniable.

Of course, the inescapable truth is that Donald was a one-off.

Many will try and fill his boots and many will be judged failures. As things stand right now, South Africa would be happy with a bowler half as talented, but just as patriotic and passionate.