Did Simon Harmer Just Deliver the Greatest Comeback by a Spinner in India?
A player who got excluded from the national side for almost a decade scripted a perfect comeback against India. And it is Simon Harmer. After missing out action for 7 years for South Africa, he might have scripted the best comeback possible by a spinner.
A player who got excluded from the national side for almost a decade scripted a perfect comeback against India. And it is Simon Harmer. After missing out action for 7 years for South Africa, he might have scripted the best comeback possible by a spinner.
The Asian subcontinent is particularly known to be dominated by spinners. And this has been the case across all the countries such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. While these pitch conditions are used well by the home team's bowlers, sometimes even the overseas players here.
This was recently done by Simon Harmer when he visited India for a two-match Test series. Taking quick wickets for the Proteas in both games, he finished as the Player of the Series. At this time, fans might have also forgotten that Harmer was excluded from the team for almost seven years.
1. Simon Harmer’s Exclusion
Simon Harmer started to play for South Africa back in 2015, which means he has been a part of the team for a decade. But after his debut in 2015, Simon Harmer lost his place in the team for Dane Piedt. He wanted to be a part of the team once again, but for this he might have chosen the wrong way for some time.
Harmer went on to sign a Kolpak deal with Essex in 2017, to play with them in the County Championship. With the deal being signed, he became out of the equation to be back again in the South African team. He had to wait for several years to make his comeback to the international team, which in 2022.
On his comeback, Simon Harmer said,“Never in a million years did I think that I would have another shot at international cricket. Never in a million years did I think that I would come to India again. To be here, to win 2-0, to be player-of-the-series, it's special and surreal.’
He further thanked his teammates by saying,“I'm very happy with the way things have panned out. I'm very grateful for the opportunities that Temba and Shukri have given me, believing in me and giving me the chance to come back and play Test cricket.”
2. Harmer’s Historic Comeback
Terming the comeback of Simon Harmer as historic would be great, as he has helped the Proteas to achieve something which the team was not able to do in years. He was not a part of the South African team which won the World Test Championship final. But he proved himself over the last two months with his spin bowling capabilities.
Simon Harmer in Tests in 2025:
- Innings: 8
- Overs: 171.3
- Maidens: 36
- Wickets: 30
- Average: 14.30
- Economy: 2.50
- Five-wicket Hauls: 2
Simon Harmer was selected in the team for the tour of Pakistan. It was a two-match Test series, and Harmer was expected to give his best even in his comeback. And he didn't disappoint the coach and selectors for the same. It should be noted that the Test match against Pakistan was Harmer's since 8 March 2023.
But he was able to finish the South Africa tour of Pakistan as the highest wicket-taker for the team in the series. Harmer took 13 wickets for South Africa in just 2 matches at an average of 21.30, with an economy of just 3 runs per over. Along with that, he also took a four-wicket haul and a five-wicket haul in the series.
He was able to take 2 wickets in the first innings, and 6 wickets in the second innings, which helped South Africa to grab the win. This was a historic win for the South African team in the Test format, made possible with Harmer's contributions. The team had secured its first Pakistan in Pakistan after 18 years.
Later he also became a part of the team in the Test series against India. He finished as the highest wicket-taker of the series this time, taking 17 wickets in 2 matches at an average of 8.94 runs per wicket. In the first Test, he got the Player of the Match award for taking 4 wickets each in
And in the second game, Harmer was able to dominate the Indian team yet again. He took 3 wickets for the team in the first innings, and later went on to take 6 wickets when India had to chase down the massive target. With this, Harmer finished the series with 17 wickets which also helped him to win the POTM award.
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