PORT ELIZABETH-Upon KeshavMaharaj`s selectionto the Proteas for the recent Australian tour, the focus was as much on his father Athmanand as there was on South Africa`s new lef t-arm spinner.

Athmanand was, of course, a wicket-keeper for Natal B when sport was segregated and could not harbour ambitions of representing South Africa.

Maharaj senior was therefore blissfully proud when his offspring had the opportunity to represent the national team, although he was unable to make the trip to Australia to see Keshav`s Test debut at the WACA due to visa regulations.

It`s little surprise then that a road trip is under way down the East Coast as the Maharaj family make their way to St George`s Park from Durban for Keshav`s first home Test here on Monday.

Maharaj is equally excited to be playing a Test against one of his all-time heroes. Sri Lanka`s Rangana Herath is the foremost left-arm spinner in the world and the South African left-armer admits it will be the fulfilment of a lifelong dream this week.

`I have always looked up to him. Apart from Daniel Vettori, he was possibly the left-arm spinner that you try and model yourself on just in terms of variations and things,` Maharaj said.-Agencies