Maharaj and Lyon resume their bromance, ten years after first meeting

Keshav Maharaj and Nathan Lyon are on opposite sides of one of cricket's most heated rivalries, between South Africa and Australia, but they agree on one thing:

"We have the same philosophy that spinners should be the first on the team sheet," Maharaj said in Potchefstroom, where South Africa are looking to sweep Australia 3-0 in an ODI series they're already two matches up in.

While Maharaj has caused Australia all sorts of problems in the ODIs, and is the series' leading wicket-taker, Lyon has flown in for the Tests and might be licking his lips about the possibilities the next month holds. South African surfaces are still in early season, and the coastal wickets, where the Tests will be played, have long been a touch slower.

With South Africa including three spinners in Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy in their preliminary Test squad, all indications are that spinners can expect some things to work in their favour.

That may come as a surprise to the Australians, who still go by South Africa's reputation as a pace paradise. But with Matthew Kuhnemann in their squad, they have the resources for the conditions - and it sounds like Lyon is looking forward to it.

"I had a good chat with Nathan yesterday when I bumped into him," Maharaj said on Tuesday. "It's just about inspiring the next generation when they do come through, and making sure that spinners always have a place within the team. Like Nathan, I love spin bowling. We're passionate about it. But we're also passionate towards other guys getting the opportunity and being those first picks. It comes with hard work also."

In this series, Maharaj has worked in tandem with Bjorn Fortuin, another left-arm spinner who has been in and around the system for more than a decade, and has over 50 international caps but is still considered a fringe player for the national side. That the two have played together, and to spectacular effect with ten wickets between them from two matches, is further proof that South Africa's mindset around spin is changing. It is no longer just that other bowling discipline used when the quicks need a break; it is an art of its own, and the artists are being respected for their craft.

Most modern South African spinners speak openly about the influence of Imran Tahir, who is still playing competitively at the age of 47 and hopes to keep going. But while Tahir could teach them about attitude, spinners like Maharaj have had to look elsewhere for lessons in their particular craft. For Maharaj, Lyon was an example.

"Growing up, I always used to watch him. I'm a huge fan," Maharaj said. "He's one of the idols in terms of the fingerspinners leading the way. What he's done for Australian cricket is absolutely phenomenal."

Maharaj was 21 years old when Lyon made his Test debut, and five years away from making his own - so though he might not have been a child, he was still in the formative years of his cricket career. The pair met when Maharaj made his Test debut in Perth in November 2016, and Lyon dismissed Maharaj in the first innings as Maharaj ran down the track and hit a loopy ball to long-on. Maharaj scored an unbeaten 41* in the second innings and got his own back when he dismissed Lyon lbw with an arm ball to end the match and give South Africa a 177-run win.

Was it the makings of a bromance? "I try to pick his brains as much as possible," Maharaj said. "We had some good chats after the series. We don't want to give away too much, but it's more about the game in general rather than looking at sort of details like that. And also just asking how he manages himself to do what he does at his age and still be at the top of his game. I take a lot of inspiration from that."

In age terms, Maharaj, who's 36, isn't that far behind Lyon, who's 38. But Lyon, with 143 Test caps, has played more than double the number of Tests as Maharaj, who's on 62. Unlike Lyon, Maharaj also has an ongoing international white-ball career, and has established himself as one of the leaders of their attack and their outfit. Maharaj has captained South Africa in a Test - that came against Zimbabwe last year - apart from leading in seven ODIs and 10 T20Is, and believes it's "nice to have responsibility on your shoulders".

Instead of asking what he can learn from Lyon, the opposite question was put to Maharaj. He was asked what tips he could provide to Lyon, especially ahead of Australia's five-Test tour to India early next year. Typically, Maharaj chose to play down his expertise, despite being part of a South African squad that beat India 2-0 in a Test series last year, and kept his cards close to his chest.

"He is a legend. He did say that they do have a tour of India coming up - a long tour - but he's a legend," Maharaj said of Lyon. "He's a world-class performer. He's performed there. I think he's taken an eight-for there, if I'm not mistaken. It's more that I can learn from him over there. It will be a wonderful opportunity for them. He'll put his best foot forward. He's a class act, and I'm sure he'll reap the rewards."

Long before Australia get to India, they'll be thinking about what they can do in a Test series in South Africa, and how much of a role Lyon can play. He has 28 wickets from nine Tests in this country, including a five-wicket haul in Gqeberha, the venue of the second Test. Maharaj has taken 33 Test wickets at that ground alone - he has the advantage over Lyon because he has played far more in South Africa - including seven and nine wickets in his last two matches there, respectively.

Perhaps the thing everyone can agree on is that the spinners will definitely be the first names on the team sheet there.