Before Keshav Maharaj had turned three, Kiran More looked at his palms and
predicted: This child will be a cricketer.
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90 .More was not angling for a career as a clairvoyant, but as a
former gloveman and with the knowledge that Keshavs father, Athmanand, was also
a wicketkeeper, he must have seen something. As it turned out, it was not the
palms that held Keshavs future, but his fingers. Two decades later, Keshav has
made a career as a left-arm spinner to fulfill Mores prophecy and his fathers
dream.Athmanand played for Natal B during the bad old days when sport was
segregated. He knew someone of his skin colour would not be able to challenge
for higher honours but immersed himself in the sport anyway.It was difficult for
us, but despite the challenges we faced, we managed to produce some outstanding
players. We enjoyed the game and we played it hard, Athmanand told ESPNcricinfo.
It was a big part of our lives.So big that it consumed Athmanands young son.
When Keshav wasnt receiving throwdowns, he was rubbing shoulders with the whos
who of the cricket world when South Africa were being welcomed back to the
international community. Players like Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin and
Pravin Amre.In 1992, when India travelled to South Africa for the Friendship
tour, Athmanand was among the many friends the players made. Back then, it was
commonplace for members of the Indian community to host the visiting team for
meals, and the Maharaj home was one that the players visited.More became a
family friend and remains in touch. He was the first person to give Athmanand
the confidence to believe that a cricket career was possible, albeit not for
him.With his playing days behind him, Athmanand worked in education, enjoyed a
stint as deputy director general of sport in the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province and
completed cricket coaching courses, all the while giving his son lessons in the
game. Keshav played in the backyard, in the Bakers Mini-Cricket progamme (a
developmental sports programme for primary school kids), and at school. He was a
left-arm seamer and a decent batsman.One day in the nets, Keshav was mad about
something and decided to bowl spin. He told the Sunday Independent that nobody
stopped him from making the switch and the new bowling style simply stuck. No
one was happier than Athmanand .From my experience as a wicketkeeper, I had
learned a lot about spin, so I tried to mould him that way.Keshavs twirling
earned him places in a team two age groups above his level and made him a star
at Northwood School, the alma mater of Shaun Pollock. By the time he was 18, he
had become a regular in the school XI.His father remained his most loyal
supporter. I followed him everywhere and kept a scorebook with his performances.
I still have it at home, Athmanand said.In 2008, despite making it to the
provincial Under-19 side, Keshav was not picked in South Africas U-19 World Cup
squad. He confessed to City Press that he was probably a little on the large
side, which may have counted against him.Still, he progressed. He was chosen for
the South African academy, given a rookie contract at the Dolphins and was on
the fringes of the franchise side. Athmanand allowed his son all the time he
needed to see if he could carve a career in cricket because he saw in Keshav
someone with a good head on his shoulders, who is very focused and very
determined in everything he does. He knows exactly what he wants and I told him
I would support him in that.But he also advised Keshav to have a plan B. Keshav
took up a marketing degree part-time but he honed his plan A. He went to play in
the Sussex Premier League in 2013, an adventure that took him away from home
comforts and his mothers kitchen.I turned my life around. I lost weight and
worked on my fitness, Keshav said.When Keshav returned, Dolphins team-mate
Imraan Khan remembers that he looked like a completely different person, with a
more diligent attitude towards eating. Cooking became a passion for him. He
started a food blog and has been part of cooking shows on the local radio
station East Coast Radio .Hes a pretty good cook, Athmanand said. The leaner
Keshav enjoyed vastly improved results. In the 2014-15 season, he was sixth on
the first-class wicket charts with 36 at 29.38. Last season he was seventh with
the same number of wickets at 32.Even though there was a slew of spinners on the
South African radar - Imran Tahir, Robin Peterson, Dane Piedt, Simon Harmer and
Aaron Phangiso - Athmanand felt Keshav was doing too well to be ignored.There
were times when we thought he would get a shot, but with team balance and that
kind of thing, we always said that if it came, that would be good and if not, he
would just keep doing his thing, because eventually he would get there.
Statistics play a very important role.In the first match of this summers
first-class season, Athmanand was proved right. Sort of. Keshav got a
career-best haul of 13 for 157 to bowl Dolphins to an innings victory over
Warriors in East London. But his place in the Test squad had been decided after
he took his first wicket in the game.After the second days play, with Warriors
on 104 for 1 in reply to Dolphins 478, in which Keshav had contributed a 71-ball
72, he got a phone call.It was Linda Zondi [the convener of the national
selection panel], and he just told Keshav, Well batted, and then said that he
needs his passport, Ahtmanand said. I told him it might mean he was selected but
that he mustnt jump to any conclusions.Over the next two days, Keshav ran
through the Warriors line-up, taking six more wickets in the first innings and
six more in the follow-on. Then he found out he was going to Australia.He was
surprised, but it is also a very well-deserved call-up, said Imraan. Over the
last few seasons what he has really worked on is consistency in length and thats
what he is so good at. When we have needed a spinner to stop the game, he has
done exactly that, but at the same time he has remained an attacking bowler and
has always picked up wickets.South Africa are searching for exactly that kind of
spinner, especially in a series where they expect the quicks to dominate.
Whether that will give Keshav the edge over Tabraiz Shamsi, a left-arm chinaman
and the only other spinner in the squad, remains to be seen.Keshavs family
members are unlikely to travel to Australia to watch the series because of the
time it will take to get their visas and Athmanand is busy getting Keshavs new
flat ready for occupation. But regardless of whether he gets the opportunity to
watch his son walk out in South Africa colours, Athmanand is ecstatic.It will be
fantastic if he gets his first cap, but even if he doesnt on this tour, he has
made us all very proud. We know his journey begins now.
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2017 Sale . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points
and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday
night.
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http://www.airmax2018outlet.us/ .J. -- New
York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after
having surgery on his left knee. MUNCIE, Ind. -- Matt Van Scyoc drilled a
3-pointer with 1:32 left in the extra period to give Indiana State a six-point
advantage that the Sycamores turned into an 80-74 overtime win over Ball State
Tuesday night.Brandon Murphy gave Indiana State a 64-62 lead with a 3-point play
with 15 seconds left in regulation, but Tayler Persons hit a pair of free throws
to tie the game at 64-64 and force overtime.Everett Clemons gave the Sycamores
the lead for good with a layup with 3:50 left in the gamee and added a free
throw a minute later that made it 69-66.
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95. .Brenton Scott finished with 25 points to lead Indiana State
(1-1), which was 28 of 59 from the field (47.5 percent). Van Scyoc added
14.Persons finished with 26 points to lead Ball State (1-1), with Franko House
contributing another 21 as the Cardinals shot 38 percent from the field (27 of
71).
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