Maharaj has given SA cause to believe in spin

CRICKET South Africa has never placed immense faith on a spinner, but Keshav Maharaj has given the selectors a reason to believe.

The allround and encompassing nature of Australian cricket has often led them to a tweaker that turns into a world-class performer.

In Nathan Lyon‚ Australia have their most successful off-spinner in their cricket history.

That is a big achievement. A country that has produced Shane Warne (708 wickets at 25.41)‚ Richie Benaud (248 wickets at 27.03) and Clarrie Grimmett (216 wickets at 24.21) as leg-spinners has not quite shown the same amount of love to finger spinners.

And love is not something South African spinners have received.

That explains why Hugh Tayfield (170 wickets at 25.91) remains South Africa’s most successful test spinner, while the unorthodox Paul Adams (134 wickets at 32.87) was the best since 1992.

The gulf in experience between Maharaj (57 wickets at 26.78) and Lyon (290 wickets at 31.64) is there for all to see, but proves how important these individuals are to their respective bowling attacks.

They have an ability to attack and defend with ease.

More importantly‚ their consistency and variety has allowed their captains the luxury of rotating the fast bowlers around them.

This was none the more apparent than in the Ashes test series, where Australia crushed England.

Lyon neutralised England’s army of southpaws and kept it tight against the right handers.

Maharaj had held his own against India, but in David Warner and Steve Smith‚ he will encounter batsmen with different – but effective – methods of countering spin.

With three of South Africa’s four tests against Australia at coastal venues‚ spin will be a big factor.

Kingsmead‚ host of the first test from today‚ has long lost its fearsome pace and bounce reputation.

The slow nature of the surface has played a crucial role in Maharaj’s development as the slow left-arm spinner for the Dolphins.

“Both spinners are going to play a big part‚” Australian bowling coach David Saker said yesterday.

“Maharaj has played well, but we have ways in which we think we can counter him.”