If any spinner had grabbed the headlines this cricketing summer in Australia, it was Keshav Maharaj, who made his debut for South Africa in the first Test in Perth.
Maharaj rode on his consistency, picking up three scalps in the first innings and the final wicket of Nathan Lyon in the second graft.
It was an extraordinary debut for him, who had his share of the extra workload in the absence of Dale Steyn. If we go down the memory lane, there was another spinner who captured a South African victory last time around.
He brought the curtains on Ricky Ponting’s distinguished career and ended any hope of an unlikely Australian victory by removing Michael Clarke for 44. He took six wickets in that Test match in Perth.
It was none other but Robin Peterson, the only spinner the Proteas had on that tour.
He lorded over Perth, playing a crucial in someway or the other to script a South African victory. He even took the catch off Ed Cowan, when he crossed his half-century, at deep backward cover in the second innings to give his team a major break-through.
On the ninth of this month, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
Despite boasting of an 11-year international cricket career, he had only played 14 Tests and 77 One-Day internationals for his country. Often recognised as a T-20 specialist by many, he contributed to his team in the longer formats, whenever was required.
One of his highlights were in the 2011 World Cup, when he hit thirteen runs off Ashish Nehra’s over, to hand India the only defeat during their triumphant run to World Cup glory.
Though he has only one five-for to his name in 50-over format, he was handier than many initially recognised at Perth.
He hit two half-centuries, as a lower-order batsman with 35 wickets in 14 Test matches. He contributed immensely in the longer format, during his early playing days as a Paul Harris replacement.
However as had been his case, he would be much remembered for being a cricket-traveler having spent his time in England with Derbyshire and Surrey and in the IPL with Mumbai Indians.
South African fans would certainly hope that Durban-based Maharaj can take forward his international career and can reach the success Peterson was destined to achieve.
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