The third coming of Simon Harmer

Simon Harmer, who claimed 17 wickets at an average of 8.94 in South Africa's two Tests in India this month, may not play another Test for more than a year. The series' top wicket-taker is fine with that.

"I want to make South African cricket better," Harmer said. "If that means I only get selected in the subcontinent, I've got absolutely no issue with that. I want to contribute. I want this team to do well. If I'm here to act in a supporting role in any which way I can, I'm more than happy to do that."

Harmer was central to South Africa's 2-0 win. He took 4/32 and 4/21 in the tense 30-run victory at Eden Gardens, and 3/64 and 6/37 in the 408-run thumping in Guwahati.

But South Africa won't play Tests until September 2026, when they host Australia for three matches. Despite his success in India, Harmer might not feature in those matches because South Africa's preferred spinner in home conditions is Keshav Maharaj. Rarely is there room for two spinners in their XI. Only in February 2027 will South Africa return to Asia—for two Tests in Sri Lanka.

Maharaj took 11 fewer wickets than Harmer and was more expensive, averaging 20.89 runs more. Yet South Africa aren't ready to demote a bowler who has taken more wickets for them than any other spinner—218 at 29.22.

Harmer defended Maharaj's place: "Kesh is a world-class spinner. He's proved his worth around the world in tough spinning conditions. If you look at how he bowled [in this series], there were a lot of balls that hit the glove and fell into space; nicks that didn't go to hand. You need a little bit of luck. I got it this time."

Harmer's average is the lowest by a South African bowler in any Test series and the second-lowest by any bowler with 15 or more wickets in a series in India. His average in India, 15.03, is the lowest among bowlers with at least 25 wickets there. With 27 career wickets in India, he is South Africa's most successful bowler in the country. After 14 Tests, Harmer has 69 wickets—more than any other South African spinner.

Yet Harmer focused on the bigger picture: "The focus was always on trying to win the series and on the team's success. The personal stuff is a nice to have, but I would have been happy to leave India making a small contribution and the team winning. It's the cherry on the top that I've done well. The biggest thing for me is the team we have, and the enjoyment in that. You can see how excited everybody is for one another's success."

He added, "I think I'm a better bowler than I was. I'm very happy with who I am as a person and as a cricketer. I don't think I need the public to think more or less of me. I'm quite happy to come and contribute. That's all I've ever wanted to do—to be able to look back at the end of my career and say that I was the best version of Simon Harmer that I could be."

Harmer made his debut against West Indies at Newlands in January 2015 and played four more Tests that year. He lost his place to Dane Piedt, prompting him to sign a Kolpak deal with Essex before the 2017 county season, which ruled him out of international selection.

He returned in March 2022 against Bangladesh at Kingsmead, taking match figures of 7/124, and played four more Tests until March 2023. A combination of the IPL's impact, Covid, and injuries helped Harmer come back, but Maharaj shut the door on him after that—until this tour.

Harmer was part of the 3-0 defeat South Africa suffered in India in November 2015, so he knew what to expect. But he never expected this: "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 expressed gratitude: "I'm very happy with the way things have panned out. I'm very grateful for the opportunities that Temba [Bavuma] and Shukri [Conrad] have given me, believing in me and giving me the chance to come back and play Test cricket."

Reflecting on his growth, Harmer said: "I'm 36, and I've been playing for a while. You start to learn. They say spin is an art and I really do believe it's the subtle changes, the deception, especially as an off-spinner. You don't have as many variations as in other forms of spin, and as you go through your career playing in different conditions you need to find solutions. Playing cricket in South Africa as a spinner is very different to playing in England and different to India. So I do believe the skillset I've built up over my career has helped me in this series."

In Rawalpindi last month, Harmer became just the fourth South African to reach 1,000 first-class wickets—and the only spinner. To do so, he has had to overcome many obstacles, including the ego we all have.

That ego is still there, of course. But Harmer spent much of his press conference looking past himself—and that's more impressive than anything he has or will do on a cricket field.