By Marcus Prior South African sports journalist

South Africa's search for the man to replace fast-bowling great Allan Donald has taken a new turn with the selection of Monde Zondeki for the national one-day squad.

In a neat turn of events, Donald is the Zondeki's hero and the two have been training together for the first time as South African preparations for next year's World Cup get serious.

It has been a new experience for everyone - not even South African assistant coach and bowling specialist Corrie van Zyl has worked with the youngster before.

Zondeki's story is one that resonates closely with the country's recent history.

His early years were spent in the township of Peelton, in the Eastern Cape, a place of seething political dissent in the apartheid years.

So bad was it that Zondeki's mother sent him away to Zambia.

Famous uncle: Ex-Sports minister Steve Tshwete

For two years the young Zondeki lived with his exiled uncle, Steve Tshwete, who would later go on to become Minister of Sport in the new democratic South Africa.

But by the age of nine, Zondeki was back in South Africa and enrolled at the prestigious Dale College.

Initially, he was a leg-spinner, but within a year he was concentrating on seam bowling.

Injury setback

He made rapid strides with local province, Border, but in a familiar twist for young South African bowling talent, his body let him down.

Suffering with back problems at just 16, Zondeki was sent to the Sports Science Institute in Cape Town on the instruction of Dr Ali Bacher, then in charge of the national cricket board.

After extensive testing there, Zondeki has been on a stringent strengthening programme for the past two years under the guidance of Border biokineticist Greg King.

"He's worked incredibly hard and responded big time - you can really tell the difference this year," the head of the Border Academy, Greg Hayes, told BBC Sport Online.

Teammate Makhaya Ntini went to the same school

But after the succession of injuries which have plagued another South African pace prospect, Mfuneko Ngam, Hayes is concerned that Zondeki is not stretched too far, too soon.

"We need to be very careful. I think he needs another winter working at his strength. Then the bird will be ready to fly the nest.

"I'd hate to see him do too much too early and spend the rest of his career as a net bowler."

Zondeki has been picked for the national squad on promise rather than what he has produced on the domestic scene.

He has taken 24 wickets at 22 in the one-day game and 31 at 31 at first-class level.

If he does not get a chance against Sri Lanka, he is certain to come into the reckoning against Pakistan, who tour immediately afterwards.

The 20-year-old is genuinely quick, and with his youthful body yet to fill out, there is the genuine prospect that he can be faster still.

He may not be the finished product by the time of the World Cup, but time is on his side.

The Xhosa name 'Monde', after all, means 'patience'.