England v South Africa, 1st Test, Friday 25 July 2003 Edgbaston, Birmingham

Shaun Pollock did the rounds of the media with play postponed due to rain and took time out in the TMS box.

With South Africa in such a dominant position heavy clouds and persistent rain was the last thing the tourists wanted, but Pollock was insistent it wasn't all bad news.

World Cup archive: Rain wrecks South African dream

"At least there's no Duckworth/Lewis in this match," he said ruefully, remembering his last match as skipper during his country's ill-fated World Cup campaign.

Pollock heaped praise on his successor at the helm, Graeme Smith, after South Africa finished the first day on 398-1.

"I'm the kind of guy who gets bored in the changing room, but it was great to be bored by our opening batters who were superb," Pollock said.

"It's important to set the tone and Graeme did exactly that.

"And with Herschelle Gibbs, the old adage form is temporary class is permanent came to the fore.

It's a good deck and we'll have to bowl really well with a lot of patience Shaun Pollock

"Herschelle's a class act and a pleasure to watch when he gets going. He played some glorious shots.

"You always give the first hour to the bowlers and have a look at the wicket. All the reports at the first drinks break said it was a really good wicket.

"We knew if we knuckled down we could get a good score, we got away with it in the second session and they got the momentum going. To score nearly 400 runs in a day is something special."

Edgbaston is home from home for Pollock who spent a season with Warwickshire in 1996, making a startling first impression with four wickets in four balls on his debut.

Q&A: Allan Donald

But he knows another South African remains top dog in Birmingham.

"Allan Donald's a legend here and in South African terms he's the greatest fast bowler. If there was anyone better I'd loved to have seen him play.

"I've seen footage of my dad Peter play, and having watched that I'd definitely say Allan's the best."