If you were to wake Keshav Maharaj in the middle of the night and ask him to start bowling, he would readily agree without hesitation.
"My passion lies in spin bowling. I love it so much that even if you woke me at 2 AM and asked me to bowl, I would do it," Maharaj mentioned while speaking from Trinidad, where South Africa and West Indies concluded the first Test of their two-match series in a draw. He added that his motivation comes from this deep love for the game and the desire to contribute to the team's success. Maharaj expressed that he would gladly bowl all day if it meant helping his team move forward.
This statement isn't an exaggeration. Maharaj bowled an exhausting 40 overs from the Queen's Park Media Centre End during West Indies' first innings, despite interruptions from rain, marking the second-longest spell by a bowler in men’s Test cricket since 2001. Without a second specialist spinner in the lineup, Maharaj anticipated a heavy workload and prepared for it during the months of white-ball cricket leading up to the series, which included playing in the SA20, IPL, and the T20 World Cup. He mentioned that regardless of the format, he maintains his workload as though he is preparing for Test matches. Maharaj explained that while line and length adjustments are necessary depending on the format, he consistently bowls long hours to maintain his stamina and reliability, which he prides himself on. He noted that unlike many spinners who rely on variations, his success comes from consistency and endurance.
On a slow pitch, Maharaj’s discipline played a crucial role in securing South Africa’s 124-run first-innings lead, though he did manage to find some turn on the third day. The pitch’s slight bounce gave hope that when South Africa declared on the fifth morning with over two sessions remaining, Maharaj could potentially bowl them to victory.
However, batting conditions improved in the final session, and the West Indies managed to score at a decent rate, keeping South Africa from securing a win. Maharaj believed that the frequent rain over the five days contributed to the match's outcome.
"The constant rain kept the wicket from deteriorating, making it easier to bat," he remarked. He speculated that without the rain delays, the pitch would likely have broken down as they had anticipated.
Despite expecting spinner-friendly conditions, South Africa chose to play only Maharaj as the frontline spinner, leaving Dane Piedt on the bench. With minimal contributions from Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder, South Africa appeared to be one bowler short. Still, Maharaj felt their selection was justified. He praised Aiden Markram, who, as the fourth bowler, delivered a crucial performance by taking the pivotal wicket of Jason Holder, triggering a West Indian collapse of 6 for 60 in 17.1 overs, setting up South Africa’s chance to push for victory. Although they failed to secure a win, which was a disappointment shared by captain Temba Bavuma and Maharaj, the team recognised the importance of taking chances given their limited fixtures.
In this World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, South Africa faces the challenge of playing only two-Test series. Having played five Tests with only seven remaining before January, the team knows they must win all seven to have a realistic shot at reaching the final. Therefore, they must focus on forcing results in their favour.
"It’s obviously disappointing not to secure a result. We always aim to play in a way that gives us the best chance of winning, even if it means taking risks," Maharaj said, referring to South Africa setting West Indies a target of 298 in Trinidad. "Draws don’t hold much value. We’re aware of what’s at stake in the World Test Championship, but our focus is on taking it one game at a time."
For Maharaj, this means giving his all in every match, especially when it comes to bowling. "I never want the captain to take the ball away from me in Test cricket, so I’m always striving to deliver my best ball and outwit the opposition," he concluded.