Cairns – South Africa don’t often take the field without Keshav Maharaj these days—and with good reason. The left‑arm spinner delivered a clinical 5/33 in the first ODI against Australia, his maiden five‑for in the format, to set up a 98‑run win and remind selectors why he belongs in every white‑ball conversation.
Always there in Tests, catching up in ODIs
Measured from his debut in each format, Maharaj has featured in 80.82% of South Africa’s Tests and 60% of their T20Is, but only 43.75% of ODIs. Part of that lag traces back to his Test-first rise and the Imran Tahir era in white‑ball cricket. Since Tahir’s last ODI at the 2019 World Cup, South Africa have played 68 ODIs and Maharaj has appeared in 45—a jump to 66.18%. A ruptured Achilles in March 2023 also cost him four ODIs and five T20Is.
A masterclass in left‑arm spin
On a surface offering grip and bounce, Maharaj needed just 26 balls to take all five wickets; the only scoring shots off him in that burst were nine singles.
- Marnus Labuschagne was lbw first ball from around the wicket, the delivery straightening sharply from leg.
- Alex Carey swept and missed; another lbw on review.
- Josh Inglis was bowled, followed by Cameron Green and Aaron Hardie, both beaten through the gate.
South Africa’s 296/8—built on Aiden Markram 82, Temba Bavuma 65, Matthew Breetzke 57 and Wiaan Mulder’s 26‑ball 31*—proved well beyond Australia under lights. Notably, there were partnerships of 92 between Markram–Ryan Rickelton and 92 between Bavuma–Breetzke.
Humble words, hard edges
Maharaj downplayed the performance—“put the balls in the right area,” he said—crediting a “tacky” new‑ball surface that later softened before turning again. The modesty belies a fierce competitor and influential dressing‑room voice who bristles at sitting out. He captained the Tests in Zimbabwe in June–July, missed the second with a groin strain, then was overlooked for the Harare T20I tri‑series and the Darwin/Cairns T20Is—decisions he admitted “disappointed” him.
The T20 balancing act
In a format increasingly valuing batting depth, Maharaj’s T20 numbers (HS 45, SR 106.81* across 95 innings) don’t help his case when compared with, say, George Linde (four fifties, SR 135.27). But the left‑arm spinner’s control, power‑play utility and match‑up value keep him firmly in the frame.
A record that travels across formats
Maharaj owns 11 Test five‑fors and a 10‑for, and has more Test wickets than any other South African spinner—at an average better than several notable quicks, too. Performances like Cairns underline the point: he’s format‑proof when conditions offer even a sliver of help.
Bottom line: When you’re picking South Africa’s XI—think once, twice, thrice about leaving Keshav Maharaj out. Then pick him.
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