{"id":28414,"date":"2022-04-01T18:58:28","date_gmt":"2022-04-01T18:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/all-news\/harmers-controversial-choices-happily-lead-to-stunning-proteas-comeback-i-feel-vindicated"},"modified":"2022-04-01T19:06:17","modified_gmt":"2022-04-01T19:06:17","slug":"harmers-controversial-choices-happily-lead-to-stunning-proteas-comeback-i-feel-vindicated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/all-news\/harmers-controversial-choices-happily-lead-to-stunning-proteas-comeback-i-feel-vindicated","title":{"rendered":"Harmer’s controversial choices happily lead to stunning Proteas comeback: ‘I feel vindicated’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – South-Africa. <\/strong><\/span>Simon Harmer unapologetically believes his career’s controversial choices are justified following a spectacular return to international cricket for the Proteas.<\/p>\n

The 33-year-old off-spinner, making his first appearance in just over six years, guided South Africa to a dominant position in the first Test against Bangladesh at Kingsmead on Friday, taking all four wickets to fall following a career-best effort with the bat.<\/p>\n

For almost five years, he was either vilified or admired for his decision to turn his back on South African cricket and sign a Kolpak agreement with Essex.<\/p>\n

Yet once Brexit meant that door would have to be shut on him, the 33-year-old off-spinner came back, secured a contract with the Titans, and added immediate value by ending as the leading wicket-taker in the domestic 4-Day Series with 44 scalps.<\/p>\n

Once the national selection panel, laudably, showed their willingness to let bygones be bygones, Harmer could focus again on reviving his career at the highest level.<\/p>\n

Harmer’s superb return soothes Bavuma heartache as Proteas take control of first Test<\/p>\n

“There’s definitely a feeling of vindication,” Harmer said after his excellent all-round day.<\/p>\n

“There are still questions if I’m good enough for international cricket. Yes, I’ve done it for Essex and come back to the Titans and taken wickets this season. But am I still good enough for international cricket?<\/p>\n

“Four wickets don’t quite say that I am, but coming back and putting in a performance, just for my own self-belief, has been good.”<\/p>\n

There can be little doubt that the initial Kolpak pain has turned, if somewhat unexpectedly, into the Proteas’ gain as Harmer has become a far more rounded cricketer.<\/p>\n

How can he not when it’s considered he’s taken 426 first-class wickets in between his international appearances and played instrumental roles in his respective teams winning 5 titles?<\/p>\n

“Essex gave me the platform as a Kolpak to find myself again. I had gone there on the back of being dropped for SA and SA ‘A’ and not knowing if I’d get another franchise contract,” said Harmer.<\/p>\n

“I had a lot of self-doubt and Essex gave me the opportunity to discover what made me successful, but I also learned to be a match-winner for them and getting comfortable with that role.<\/p>\n

“The more I started to do it, the more I started to believe. That’s added a lot to my game. I’d single out that.<\/p>\n

“I had my reasons for signing, I can’t speak for anyone else. For me, it was about opportunity. There was a lot of media attention about how lucrative County cricket etc., but for me, it was about playing.<\/p>\n

“I was only playing one format for the Warriors when I left and then suddenly played all three in England. That’s what it was about.”<\/p>\n

That single-mindedness meant he could brush off the criticism.<\/p>\n

“I was painted with the same brush as everyone else [who had reasons like financial security and general uncertainty] and that’s fine.<\/p>\n

“At the end of the day, the real currency is wickets and good performances and trophies. I put my blinkers on and tried just to achieve those three things.”<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About South-Africa<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – South-Africa. Simon Harmer unapologetically believes his career’s controversial choices are justified following a spectacular return to international cricket for the Proteas. The 33-year-old off-spinner, making his first appearance in just over six years, guided South Africa to a dominant position in the first Test against Bangladesh at Kingsmead on Friday, taking all four […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":28413,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,8,17],"tags":[274,315,600,323,322,1205,275],"class_list":["post-28414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-homepage-english","category-sport","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-south-africa","tag-bangladesh","tag-cricket","tag-proteas","tag-simon-harmer","tag-south-africa-2"],"yoast_head":"\nHarmer's controversial choices happily lead to stunning Proteas comeback: 'I feel vindicated' - South Africa<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Simon Harmer unapologetically believes his career's controversial 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