Sportskeeda Cricket Awards 2017: Top 10 Test bowlers of the year

Keshav Maharaj

Maharaj has impressed in his short international career thus far

In a team containing the likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Kagiso Rabada, it would have been fair to assume that Keshav Maharaj would have been used in a more containing role. However, he put that notion to rest, picking up 48 wickets from just 11 matches and ending the year as South Africa's second highest wicket-taker.

Maharaj struggled initially, but sprung into action in the series against New Zealand, picking 15 wickets from just four innings. He carried his rich vein of form into South Africa's tour of England, scalping 17 wickets in the series. Having cemented his spot in the side, he then unleashed his entire arsenal on an unsuspecting Bangladesh unit at Potchefstroom, scalping seven wickets in the match.

He ended the year with a flourish, a fifer sealing Zimbabwe's feat in the inaugural four-day Test match.

With India set to tour the Rainbow Nation in 2018, Maharaj's toughest test is still to come but with the way he has performed so far, there is no reason why he won't be able to conquer that challenge as well.