WTC Final: South Africa`s Keshav Maharaj hails Australia`s Nathan Lyon

As the World Test Championship (WTC) final inches closer, South Africa`s star spinner Keshav Maharaj heaped praises on Australia`s Nathan Lyon.

Maharaj thanked the Australian for paving the way for the finger spinner in the future. In a video posted by ICC, “I have always been a huge fan of Nathan Lyon. Huge respect, I think, when he got his, was it 400th? I sent him a DM on Instagram saying, you know, thank you for leading the way with regards to fingerspin and making youngsters believe that it is not only leg-spinners that are wanted out there. I mean, what he has done for Australian cricket and to that bowling lineup is probably beyond words,” said the South African.

The veteran of 136 Test matches, Lyon reflected by saying, “Yeah, that is obviously very kind words from him. I have had some great chats with Keshav, and the respect goes both ways. Each and every one has got their own journey and the way Maharaj goes about it and the shape that he puts on it is incredible in my eyes”.

Both these spinners will feature against each other during the upcoming WTC final, between South Africa and Australia. The mega event is scheduled to be played at the Lord`s Cricket Ground from June 11 to 15.

So far, the 37-year-old Lyon has represented Australia in 136 longest format matches and has managed to claim 553 wickets.

On the other hand, South Africa`s Keshav Maharaj has played 57 Test matches and bagged 198 wickets. He is just two wickets shy of becoming the first-ever Proteas spinner to complete the tally of 200 scalps in the traditional format of the game.

World Test Championship (WTC) final: Squads

South Africa squad: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy.

Australia squad: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett.

(With ANI Inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day