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[VIDEO] Simon Harmer: Performance Watch

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Nikhil_cric

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Two wickets on debut on a first day pitch in SA. That is quite an impressive start. Is he the spinner that SA have been so arching for all this while or will he be one of those who will fade away after one season? Thoughts?
 
He looks to me just a average spinner u see day in day out even if he gets a 5fer he's average
 
Can't say anything because he is playing against West Indies of all teams.

Let's see how he does against Lanka or Australia on non-subcontinental pitches.
 
Decent 1st day as a bowler but playing against a very poor west indies side is probably going to allow him to get quite a few easy wickets.
 
Seeing this trio of South African spinners on show in India, it's a real shame that Harmer was forced to choose the kolpak route. He's comfortably better than all three. Based on his performances for Essex over the last couple of years, I'd rank him on par with Nathan Lyon.
 
Last Monetarist said:
Seeing this trio of South African spinners on show in India, it's a real shame that Harmer was forced to choose the kolpak route. He's comfortably better than all three. Based on his performances for Essex over the last couple of years, I'd rank him on par with Nathan Lyon.
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I saw him as the Saffers' equivalent of Lyon/Swann when I made this thread. He's definitely better than muthuswamy and Dane piedt. Him and Maharaj would have made a good spin duo here.
 
Piedt and Maharaj have looked utterly ordinary so far during this test. I agree that Harmer had the potential to be as good as Swann. File his name under one that got away from South Africa, along with the likes of Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen.
 
Last Monetarist said:
Seeing this trio of South African spinners on show in India, it's a real shame that Harmer was forced to choose the kolpak route. He's comfortably better than all three. Based on his performances for Essex over the last couple of years, I'd rank him on par with Nathan Lyon.
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Maharaj is a brilliant spinner,I don't think Harmer is better than him. Indians particularly this bunch play left arm orthodox spin extremely well, even the great Herath has received severe punishment from our batsmen. Not a surprise to see Maharaj being handled easily, but his overall career has been impressive till now. Despite him not getting many chances on SA greentops.
 
Kolpak again.

Money talks, player walks.
 
Swashbuckler said:
Maharaj is a brilliant spinner,I don't think Harmer is better than him. Indians particularly this bunch play left arm orthodox spin extremely well, even the great Herath has received severe punishment from our batsmen. Not a surprise to see Maharaj being handled easily, but his overall career has been impressive till now. Despite him not getting many chances on SA greentops.
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I follow quite a bit of county cricket and I believe Harmer is one of the best spinners in the world today.

There's a significant element of truth to Indians being brilliant players of spin, but Maharaj has always looked a standard non-turning left-arm slow bowler. He is accurate but he doesn't possess a great degree of variety. Maybe that's sufficient to dismiss modern batsmen, but I'd class Maharaj along the likes of Ashley Giles, Nicky Boje, Abdul Rehman, and Zulfiqar Babar.
 
Last Monetarist said:
I follow quite a bit of county cricket and I believe Harmer is one of the best spinners in the world today.
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I will take your word since I don't follow CC closely.

There's a significant element of truth to Indians being brilliant players of spin, but Maharaj has always looked a standard non-turning left-arm slow bowler. He is accurate but he doesn't possess a great degree of variety. Maybe that's sufficient to dismiss modern batsmen, but I'd class Maharaj along the likes of Ashley Giles, Nicky Boje, Abdul Rehman, and Zulfiqar Babar.
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Current Indians aren't good against all types of spin bowling, but against SLA orthodox they are merciless. They may have a blip or two but overall they dominate that kind of bowling. Our Kohlis and Ches average in the 35-50 range against off spin and leggies, against LA spin it shoots up to over 100. That is why I think it is unfair to judge Maharaj based on his performance against India, even Herath averaged above 50 against us.

I think Maharaj is qualitatively on par with Vettori and similar style, obviously he won't play as many matches but qualitatively he may surpass the Kiwi great. He has done well in SENA and also Sri Lanka. It is only in India where his numbers are bad. Let us wait and watch how he does in UAE. A pity SA prepares so many greentops at home thus removing role of spin, otherwise in Maharaj they have a quality weapon. Not a big turner but subtle, accurate, good control over trajectory etc, his numbers are good as well.
 
It's a shame Harmer in his current form isn't playing for SA. As spinners can play until 40, why not play International cricket and earn the money later.
 
Swashbuckler said:
I think Maharaj is qualitatively on par with Vettori and similar style, obviously he won't play as many matches but qualitatively he may surpass the Kiwi great.
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Disagree about Maharaj being on par with Vettori. Vettori had the arm ball which was deceptively quick and he also used to give the ball a significant rip prior to suffering from several shoulder injuries. I've never seen Maharaj turn the ball sharply. I just don't see what he brings to South Africa which is different from the likes of Boje, Harris, and Peterson. He's a standard run of the mill slow left-armer. I fear batting standards against spin bowling have deteriorated outside India over the last five years, which accounts for his decent bowling average around 30.
 
Bewal Express said:
It's a shame Harmer in his current form isn't playing for SA. As spinners can play until 40, why not play International cricket and earn the money later.
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It wasn't just money, although that played a part, but he wanted job security. He had not been offered a contract by Cricket South Africa and he was struggling to break into the test side because of transformation targets. He chose the sensible route to secure his family's future.
 
Last Monetarist said:
It wasn't just money, although that played a part, but he wanted job security. He had not been offered a contract by Cricket South Africa and he was struggling to break into the test side because of transformation targets. He chose the sensible route to secure his family's future.
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I see his point of view but money comes and goes but this chance will never come again.
 
HitWicket said:
He wasn't offered a domestic contract. If he hadn't made the move he would possibly have had to look for jobs outside of cricket.
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But lots off players aren't, he did the right at the time but Faf went back after a Kolpaks, he can also do that.
 
He is back in SA squad for series against New Zealand.

==

Thirty-two-year-old Simon Harmer, will return to the Proteas Test set-up for the outbound tour to New Zealand. The last time the right-hand, off-spinner appeared for the national team was against India in November 2015.
 
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He has been taking tons and tons of wickets in country circuit since he went the Kolpak route. At 32 years of age he has gathered 726 first class wickets at an average of 26.

He has been the 2nd highest wicket taker so for in the ongoing SA domestic season, Oliver was the highest.
 
NZ don't even play a spinner at home but good to see him in the squad again. Him and Maharaj could be deadly in Asia.
 
only a matter of time, standards in county are pretty low but u cant ignore 700 wickets at 26. should be a good squad player in asia for the next 3 or 4 years.
 
What a comeback in Test cricket for Simon Harmer!

Crucial lower order runs with an unbeaten knock to solidify SA’s strong position with the bat, and then took all four wickets to fall in the BAN response.
 
SA fans must be wondering what if he had been available during his kolpak years.

He is a match turning spinner.
 
Underrated cricketer.

He has missed alot of crucial years but he can still have a good career for South Africa. Definitely someone who should be in the team playing on a consistent basis. South Africa have a good spin attack now in him, Maharaj and Shamsi.
 
With Harmer returning might mean the door for Rilee Rossow and some others might open.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A hat-trick to start your spell! &#55357;&#56881;<br><br>Simon Harmer, you magnificent man &#55357;&#56845;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Blast23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Blast23</a> <a href="https://t.co/zgpTXCDTjp">https://t.co/zgpTXCDTjp</a> <a href="https://t.co/zBEQdlByYQ">pic.twitter.com/zBEQdlByYQ</a></p>— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) <a href="https://twitter.com/VitalityBlast/status/1664359536084254722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Nikhil_cric said:
Two wickets on debut on a first day pitch in SA. That is quite an impressive start. Is he the spinner that SA have been so arching for all this while or will he be one of those who will fade away after one season? Thoughts?
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He is still the 2nd best spinner at least in South African cricket and at one point , he couldn't even make it to their 'A' side
 
1000 first-class wickets for Harmer.

6 for 29 for him against Pakistan in the 2nd inning... He is looking for more..3 more left so can take those ones also
 
Warrican, Muthusamy, Harmer. I think spinners who want to have their career best should make a pakistan Test tour.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
Warrican, Muthusamy, Harmer. I think spinners who want to have their career best should make a pakistan Test tour.
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Harmer is a very accomplished spinner with 1000 FC wickets. Not sure why you feel the need to reduce him to a punch-line. For the record, he averages 25 with the ball in India too.
 
Nikhil_cric said:
He is still the 2nd best spinner at least in South African cricket and at one point , he couldn't even make it to their 'A' side
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Definitely one of those guys who wasn't treated that well by South Africa over the years. Probably why he decided to take a Kolpak deal with Essex back in 2017.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Definitely one of those guys who wasn't treated that well by South Africa over the years. Probably why he decided to take a Kolpak deal with Essex back in 2017.
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Yeah. Good on Shukri Conrad for realising his worth and bringing him into the fold for an Asia tour.

I'd like to see George Linde in ahead of Preneleyan for the India tour as well.
 
1000 first class wickets. You can't achieve that unless you are an exceptionally good bowler. Surprised South Africa failed to get him to play for them during his prime. His bowling iq and experience showed in the Pakistan series.
 
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