His return to the international arena has been nothing short of sensational, igniting the Test squad and delivering unprecedented results.

Ten years on from his initial Proteas debut, Harmer is now the talk of the town. While the official rankings place Keshav Maharaj at 17th and Harmer at 24th, it is easy to argue that, on current form, Harmer is staking a serious claim as the world’s leading spinner.

Simon Harmer. Photo: Cricinfo

The veteran off-break bowler has been absolutely immense since his recall. His crowning moment so far came when he was deservedly named Player of the Series in the Proteas’ dominant 2-0 Test series whitewash against India on the subcontinent – a monumental achievement, marking the team’s first series victory in India in more than 25 years.

In the four Tests since his glorious return, Harmer has taken a staggering 30 wickets, a jaw-dropping haul that speaks volumes of his mastery. This includes 17 against the formidable Indian batting line-up, following up on the crucial 13 wickets he bagged during the hard-fought 1–1 Test series draw in Pakistan.

Harmer, however, remains grounded, stating that while personal form is satisfying, their recent success boils down to a fundamental team effort. That collective spirit, he suggests, is the secret sauce that has seen the Proteas crowned as World Test Champions earlier in the year.

“Obviously for me, the biggest thing is what we’ve achieved as a team,” Harmer remarked.

“In Pakistan, we went one-nil down, came back, and won the Test match – and the same thing has happened here. Coming to India, we knew it was going to be a difficult series. They’re a world-class team, especially in their own conditions.

“My focus was always on trying to win the series and on the team’s success. The personal stuff is nice to have, but I would’ve been very happy to leave India having made a small contribution and the team winning. Doing well personally is just a bonus – the cherry on top, you could say.”

Simon Harmer. Photo: Cricinfo

Harmer, who boasts over 1,000 first-class wickets, emphasised that being part of the current Proteas set-up is incredibly special, a unit that genuinely thrives on each other’s success.

“I’ve spoken a bit about 2015; it was a tough time to be on the other end of things. So, to come back now, after winning 2-0 in India, is another bonus. But the biggest thing for me is this team – the enjoyment, the sheer excitement you can see on TV, how everyone celebrates each other’s success.

“That brings me the most joy: sharing a changeroom with these guys, these World Test Champions, and being part of that. Being part of the team’s success … those are the personal wins for me, not the milestones.”

In a brief but brilliant career, Harmer has now accumulated 69 wickets in just 14 Tests, with the trajectory of this “second coming” suggesting many more to follow.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cvs