McDonald, the brother of Australian Test all-rounder Andrew, is making a splash in the Melbourne Premier League competition this summer.

Playing for Richmond the leg spinner has captured 24 wickets at the impressive average of 23.13 to be his team’s second-highest wicket-taker.

He has also amassed 207 runs at 18.82 with a highest score of 59 which came when a match against Melbourne was hanging in the balance.

Richmond director of cricket Brent Skinner said the former Lavington, East Albury and SS&A all-rounder had the ability to replicate his brother’s feats and play state cricket.

He believes the younger McDonald is almost certain to receive a rookie contract with the Bushrangers for the 2009-10 season.

“We have been very happy with him since he crossed from Footscray,” Skinner said.

“He has made a couple of 50s and batting very well at seven or eight and he’ll probably move up the order next season.

“His bowling has been exceptional, he would be the best leg spinner in the state after Bryce McGain and we think next year he may be rookie contracted with Victoria and we would hope in the next year or two that he would be playing first class cricket for Victoria.

“He is just an exceptional talent.”

Skinner said Dandenong skipper Darren Dempsey, who was named captain of Cricket Victoria team of the year, rated McDonald ahead of 36-year-old McGain.

“A good friend of mine is Darren Dempsey, who is regarded as one of the best for 10 years in district cricket, said to me he was the best leg spinner in the state by a mile,” he said.

“He has just improved so much, he has got a lot of variation — flipper, wrong ’un and a very good leg spinner.

“He got 6-87 two weeks ago off 38 overs so he’s bowled a monster spell which is a good thing to be able to do.”

McDonald spent the last Australian winter playing cricket in England where he starred for Heaton Mersey in the Cheshire County Cricket League’s premier division.