SA spinner Simon Harmer opines on signing the Kolpak Deal

South African spinner Simon Harmer has returned to the international setup with a bang as he has been mightily impressive so far against Bangladesh until the end of Day two at the Kingsmead in Durban. Having made his debut way back in 2015, Harmer could not establish much of an authority as a lead spinner and was dropped from the squad after just five Tests. Subsequently, he moved to Essex on a Kolpak deal where he played an important part in their championship title run.

He made a comeback to South Africa playing for the Warriors and got his place back in the international side again. The off-spinner could not have asked for more, as he played a handy knock of unbeaten 38 in the first innings and followed it up by taking all the four wickets that the visitors lost in the second day’s play. He finished with 4 for 42 in his 20 overs with seven maidens and was the pick of the bowlers.

I was only playing one format for the Warriors when I left: Simon Harmer

Harmer mentioned that he saw the Kolpak deal as an opportunity to play all three formats and noted that he had been playing just the one format for the Warriors when he left. He added that it all comes to wickets, performances and winning games and reckoned how he had to put all the opinions aside to concentrate on achieving things.

“I had my reasons for signing my Kolpak, I can’t speak for everybody but for me, it was about opportunity. There was a lot of media and press about how lucrative playing county cricket is with the British pound. For me it was about opportunity, I was only playing one format for the Warriors when I left here and I went over there and played all three formats and for that’s what it was about,” Harmer told at stumps, on Day two.

“I was painted with the same brush as everybody else, which is fine, but at the end of the day currency is wickets, performances and winning games of cricket and trophies. I sort of put my blinkers on and tried to achieve those things. I definitely think there is a feeling of vindication after coming back because there are still questions whether I am good enough to play international cricket,” he added.