Keshav Maharaj's Test records in England

He has excelled against Sri Lanka when it comes to international Test match cricket. He has made light work of various opponents such as Zimbabwe and the West Indies. A simple, harmless watch over his Test numbers against these distinctly talented opponents seems to suggest the same: 66 of his career 198 wickets have come against the trinity of the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.  

But in the current scheme of things where competitive Test match cricket is about to reach peak crescendo, it ought to be added, that Keshav Maharaj will really have to bring out his A-game, for he's about to lock horns not just in the WTC finals but rather notably, against a Test team that's been the "Maharaj" of winning big events: Australia. 

It is the kind of opposition that relies on the near perfect impenetrable batting built on the qualities of aggression and watchfulness to mount an almost infallible attack against its opponents.

And this is certainly what a power-packed Australian line-up is likely going to do where it comes to, unarguably speaking, the highest echelons of Test cricket: the World Test Championship Final.

It is here where Keshav Maharaj, a thinking, wise, quietly discerning cricketer ever capable to outfox the best in the game, will have to play the best that is possible. A lot is at stake, a lot will go down in the record books and the books of history for this is going to be a clash of titans, which is why Maharaj, 198 wickets from just 57 Tests, is going to aim to gun for the big glory.

There's no doubt about the fact that his famed batting line up, up in the order, including Markram, Bavuma, Tony de Zorzi and Kyle Veryenne will look to their most able spinner to keep churning wickets as he has so often done and rather brilliantly so, against the likes of the West Indies and Sri Lanka.

But will that ever happen this time around? We can all have our predictions and pluses and minuses and analysis, although, truth certainly is that which way the cookie crumbles is something none of us can put a finger to and that, it is only resting in the lap of the future.

Having said that, Keshav Maharaj's fans will be excited to note that against giants of the game, such as the English cricket team, his Test numbers are very exciting: he has picked 31 wickets from just 10 games, including a fifer, which suggest his prowess against strong sides.

But this time around, the contest is about Australia's batting depth and the key talent at remaining composed under pressure; England is just the playground this time around that is going to hopefully unfurl one amazing treat for Test match fans.

What ought to be noted is that there's a soldier-like quality about the distinct talent that is Maharaj, a familiar breaker of established partnerships and someone who can hold onto his own in the bid to give his team the breakthroughs when they are so desperately sought. This is just the kind of skill Keshav Maharaj, 17th on the ICC top Test bowlers, will be expected to bring to the fore:

So how do Keshav Maharaj's numbers, the deliverer of 358 maiden overs in Tests, stack up against the mighty Aussies?