It's hard being a spinner in South Africa especially in times when there is sense to create an environment which is conducive to pacers just like India started in 2015 onwards with spinners at home, however still it is widely believed that Keshav Maharaj has a vital role to play
Since South Africa came back into international cricket in 1991, they have generally comprised an attack where spinners have played supporting role only be it Pat Symcox, Nicky Boje or Paul Harris barring Paul Adams South Africa didn’t have the privilege to play an attacking spinner at Test level. Imran Tahir came with big expectations but couldn’t replicate his limited over success in Tests. As a result of it entered Keshav Maharaj and in the last 3-4 years have become an integral part of South African test team. His success during the period has ensured that he has been the best spinner to play for South Africa since readmission.
Keshav Atmanand Maharaj born in Durban to Atmanand Maharaj who himself played for Natal as a cricketer but couldn’t get chance like many other cricketers due to Apartheid. Maharaj who started playing sports at an early age only took Cricket as a serious career when he was 13 and wanted to be a fast bowler, when he started bowling spin he was very impressive right from the beginning. At the age of 16, he was picked by Natal and he was playing first-class cricket.He started to hit peak post-2012, In 2014 he took 44 wickets at 261.8 and shot to proimnence, it was same time when Tahir was failing to put up to the expectations. After his impressive performance in the 2015-16 season he was picked for the national team and played his first test at WACA, he was the first spinner to debut on the ground once hailed as the fastest in the world. In spite of not picking many wickets in his initial series, he gave South Africa a control in the spin department.
In New Zealand he was instrumental in the series win picking up 15 wickets. Against England a series which South Africa lost by 3-1 , Maharaj was one of the bright sports with 17 wickets in 4 tests. His flight, guile and dip troubled all the batsmen even on the pitches which didn’t assist the spinners much. It was clear the South Africa had found something special. Apart wrecking Zimbabwe and Bangladesh he had to take backstage against India in a series where pacers dominated right from the start. Against Australia he took 17 wickets in the series which South Africa won by 3-1. At Durban he took 9 wickets and was the lone fighter in losing cause. Against Sri Lanka at SSC he took his first 10 wicket haul in the match. In a marathon spell of bowling where he bowled 81.1 overs, Maharaj picked 12 -254 and which included the figure of 9-129 in first innings which were the second best bowling figures in South Africa cricket history. In spite of Maharaj heroics, South Africa lost the series 2-0.
With changing nature of pitches at home and preference of playing with 4 seamers have meant Maharaj have to miss out against Pakistan without any substantial contribution while he returned for the series against Sri Lanka but bowled on 31.4 overs in 2 tests picking only 4 wickets at 35.25, his failure on third day at Port Elizabeth was the reason for the disastrous loss for South Africa, a series where they for the first time lost to an Asian side on South African shores. While a lot of expectation were there from Maharaj but he couldn’t deliver it as Sri Lankan batsmen played him with very ease. The series loss might saw some of the major changes when South Africa play next however Maharaj’s place is under no threat as he has been a consistent performer in his short career.
Moreover, with an Indian tour coming up and South Africa needing atleast 2-3 spinners for turners in India, Maharaj might be leading the attack for the difficult tour where Test Championship era would have just begun for them. As of now, he had taken 94 wickets in 25 tests at 28.44 and with kind of talent he posses the journey of the boy from Natal have just begun.
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