Harmer Recalls Pressure of Facing Ashwin‘s 2015 Dominance After Key Wickets on Day 2 vs. India
Kolkata – South African spinner Simon Harmer delivered a stunning performance on Day 2 of the opening Test against India in Kolkata on Saturday, claiming four crucial wickets and limiting india’s lead to just 30 runs. The wickets of Washington sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, and Axar Patel swung the momentum back in South Africa’s favour, but Harmer revealed the performance brought back memories of a far more daunting challenge: facing Ravichandran Ashwin in 2015.
Harmer’s return to the South African team – after a period sidelined by a Kolpak deal with Essex county Cricket Club that ended with the introduction of Brexit – proved instantly impactful. South africa had been bowled out for 159 in their first innings, leaving India with an prospect to build a substantial lead. Harmer, however, had other plans.
The spinner’s success prompted reflection on his previous tour of India in 2015, where he experienced the full force of Ashwin’s bowling prowess. “2015, I was quite new to test cricket and Ravi Ashwin was bowling like a jet and I think he took close to 40 wickets in that series,” Harmer told The Indian Express. “The expectation that I needed to do the same and dealing with that and putting myself in even more pressure.Now, I think I am a lot more confident in my ability.And I don’t have as many doubts that I had back then.”
In the 2015 series, Harmer himself had enjoyed success, taking five-wicket hauls in both the first Test in Mohali and the third in Nagpur. However, Ashwin ultimately dominated, claiming 31 wickets across the four matches, including a seven-wicket haul.
harmer acknowledged the difference in his mindset now compared to then. “I was fighting for a place in the team whereas now I feel like I have the skillset to compete. Whether or not it goes my way is sometimes the luck of the draw but as long as I can go back and say I put balls in the right areas, I can be happy with that. I am obviously a lot more experienced as the last time I was here.”
he also openly addressed his absence from international cricket,stating,”The reason I wasn’t involved with international cricket,one because I wasn’t good enough at that time and I didn’t force the selectors to select me and I signed the Kolpak deal which means I couldn’t play for South Africa anymore.” He reiterated his desire to compete at the highest level, adding, “I have always had a desire to compete at the highest stage and level which is international cricket. And I have always wanted to come back to India after the experience in 2015.”
Despite Harmer’s strong showing with the ball,India struck back late on Day 2,reducing South africa to 93/7 at stumps. Ravindra Jadeja spearheaded the Indian attack, claiming four wickets of his own. Temba bavuma (29) and Corbin Bosch (1) will resume their innings on Day 3, hoping to build a defendable lead for the visitors.
