Player Of The Match in the first Test at Kolkata, Simon Harmer has picked up eight wickets in the match, helping South Africa get a 1-0 lead in the series against India. Reflecting on how he celebrated the victory, Harmer said he had a couple of beers, and the senior group in South African team appreciates winning Test match cricket.
“We’re in a nice hotel. Probably some golf tomorrow. We had a couple of beers last night. I think it’s important to celebrate wins, especially here in India, because you don’t know when they’re going to come around again. The senior group here appreciates winning Test match cricket. It’s quick turnaround so nice to have a couple of extra days off,” he said on ‘talkSPORTCricket’.
“We need to make sure we get back to the drawing board because the Indians are going to have some fire in their belly and want to turn around the results of the first Test,” Harmer added.
Speaking on his expectation of pitch in Guwahati Harmer said: “I think India has never played Test cricket at Guwahati so I’m sure they are unsure of exactly how it is going to go. I think they’re going to feel that having the best Test bowler in the world and him not having an impact on day three, they would want to get him more into the game, so is it going to be seamer-friendly? You don’t know what you’re going to get. They obviously want to win so they are going to make sure that the wicket suits whatever team they want to select.”
Speaking at the end of Day 2, Harmer opened up about finding his way back to the national side.
“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. 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. I think as a finger spinner, you need to add strings to your bowling and the character that I am, I am always trying to push myself and be better. So, I think I am my fiercest competitor and my harshest critic,” he said to reporters.
