Simon Harmer has been a dominant force in English county cricket for ten years, taking more County Championship wickets than any other player since his arrival at Essex in 2017. The South African off-spinner, who has since regained his place in the Proteas Test team, discusses his journey, the state of the game, and his future plans.
From Kolpak to Legend
Harmer arrived at Chelmsford on a six-month Kolpak deal after drifting out of South Africa's Test side following just five appearances. Within months, he went from first-choice spinner to backup for Keshav Maharaj and Dane Piedt. 'I'm not dumb,' he says. 'I know when I'm not wanted.' Essex, newly promoted to Division One, needed a spinner, and Harmer needed a stage. He took 72 wickets at 19.19 in his first season, helping Essex win their first County Championship title in 25 years.
Dominance in County Cricket
Since then, Harmer has amassed 522 first-class wickets for Essex, winning two County Championship titles and a Bob Willis Trophy. He has topped the overall wicket-taking charts in three seasons. Despite rumours of an England call-up, he insists there was never a serious chance. 'It's my job,' he shrugs. 'I just want to make sure that when I call it a day, I can say I was the best version of Simon Harmer that I could have been.'
Views on England's Test Team
Harmer is intrigued but unconvinced by England's aggressive 'Bazball' philosophy. 'I do feel selection has gone away from scoring a thousand runs in the County Championship for a couple of years, to ‘it’s not how many you score, it’s how you score,’' he says. 'If it’s easy on the eye, it’ll get you in the side.' He believes Test cricket still rewards control and consistency over time, sensing a disconnect between what Rob Key and Brendon McCullum are chasing and what the format demands.
On English Spinners
Harmer is sympathetic to the challenges faced by English spinners. 'In England, generally your spinners are a bit of an afterthought,' he says. He admires Liam Dawson and Jack Leach but questions the system around them. 'It’s not a lack of resources, you’ve got 18 counties. But how many have a spin-bowling coach? Probably two or three.' He adds, 'I think English cricketers don’t always have that fight in them.'
Critique of the County System
Harmer points a finger at the county circuit for allowing mediocrity. 'With 18 teams, there’s definitely a place for mediocrity. There are loads of guys just plodding along, doing enough to keep their average contracts,' he says. He contrasts this with his own fighting spirit, which was forged by the embarrassment of being dropped by the Proteas. 'Everybody is going to face that shit. How do you deal with it? Do you fade, or do you prove the fuckers wrong?'
Global Game and South Africa
On the global stage, Harmer acknowledges India's dominance. 'Because of their commercial power, they have all of the power. The BCCI control the ICC. But what can we do? As a player you just control the controllables.' He admires the current South Africa side under Shukri Conrad and Temba Bavuma, which is 'more than the sum of their parts with only a couple of superstars.'
Personal Growth and Future Plans
Harmer has mellowed with age, becoming a father nine months ago and regaining his place in the South Africa Test team. 'I don’t think I was a good person on the field when I was younger,' he admits. He plans to retire in two more seasons and then pursue a career in law, finishing a degree to become a barrister. 'I have to be brave enough to go and be shit at something for the first time again,' he says.
For now, Harmer remains a force in county cricket, still spinning, still fighting, and still proving that one short contract can birth a legacy. 'Stop waiting around for the perfect situation. Get on a plane and go. That’s all it took for me.'
