Simon Harmer fights back tears after his first 10-wicket haul against Australia

For Simon Harmer, the most revealing moment of an unforgettable day in Cape Town came after the cricket ended. The South African spinner has just taken his first 10-wicket haul in Test cricket, helping his team beat Australia by 176 runs to seal a 2-1 series win. But when asked what he would say to his younger self, the 37-year-old struggled to find the words.

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“I don’t think I would change my path for anything. The person I’ve become,” Harmer said before pausing and visibly fighting back tears.

Pulling himself together, he added, “Yeah, I was just getting upset.”

It was a succinct response, but one that brought with it years of setbacks, uncertainty, and a long journey back to the international stage. After losing his place in the South African Test side after the 2015 tour of India, Harmer spent several years away from international cricket, playing county cricket for Essex in England.

Rather than let this period stall his career, he seized the opportunity. Harmer became a key figure for Essex, honing his craft and establishing himself as one of the most respected spinners in county cricket. His return to the South African set-up in 2022 brings him back to the Test arena, giving him another opportunity to make his mark at the highest level.

That journey gave his words in Cape Town meaning beyond the numbers on the scoreboard.

A DAY TO REMEMBER

Harmer had much to celebrate. His career-best figures of 6-16 in Australia’s second innings helped Australia win by 111 and complete South Africa’s remarkable comeback in the series.

The hosts entered the final day needing 10 wickets, with Australia chasing 288. Kagiso Rabada, who returned after being sidelined by illness on Days 2 and 3, made an immediate impact with two wickets in the opening over of the match. Six overs later, he removed Travis Head, leaving Harmer to tighten his grip on Australia’s batting line-up.

The spinner finished with figures of 10-120 and won the Man of the Match award. When asked about his approach, Harmer said the key was to push aside the expectations attached to the opportunity.

“I think it was just dealing with the expectation, putting that aside and understanding what I had to do, get the ball in the right areas as often as I could,” he said.

As the innings progressed, he relied on changes of pace, trajectory and angles to keep the Australian batsmen under pressure.

SPINNER’S DREAM

Rabada’s early knocks put South Africa firmly in control, but Harmer still had work to do to close out the innings. He realized that Australia would soon be playing for a draw, a situation that offered the spinner a chance to attack on a turning surface.

“As a spinner on a revolving wicket, that’s what they’re made of,” he said.

With the fielders around the bat and the pressure building, Harmer found the ideal conditions for the kind of bowling he likes. He described the experience as “one hell of a lot of fun”, acknowledging that Rabado’s magic made his own task easier.

The performance was particularly satisfying after Harmer questioned his bowling after the second Test at Gqeberha. He felt he was trying too hard to get wickets there and wanted to focus on control before opting to use any help from the surface in Cape Town.

THE PATH MATTER

South Africa’s win completed a turnaround after losing the first Test in Durban by 214 runs. They responded with an innings and 31-run win at Gqeberha before sealing the series in Cape Town, reclaiming the No.1 position in the ICC Test rankings.

It was another milestone for Harmer in a career that rarely followed a straight line. His years in county cricket, his return to the Proteas and now a maiden 10-wicket haul have all become part of the same story.

He was asked to look back and offer his younger self some advice. Instead, Harmer became emotional as he reflected on the person his experiences had shaped.

“I don’t think I would change my journey for anything.

After a career-defining performance, it was perhaps the most telling thing Harmer said all day.

– The end