In 2017, Simon Harmer signed the ‘Kolpak Deal’ to play for the English county team Essex. Harmer had given up hope of playing Test cricket for South Africa. This off-spinner played for the first time in India with the South African team that toured India in 2015, but he had an average performance in this series. After which his chances of playing another Test match in India were almost over. However, Harmer has performed brilliantly on the current tour of India, playing an important role in helping the South African team achieve a historic 2-0 win in the two-match series.

What did Simon say about playing after 2015?

After registering a big win of 408 runs in the Guwahati Test against India, Simon Harmer said on Wednesday, ‘I never thought that I would get another chance in international cricket and I also never thought that I would come to India to play again. To be here, to win the series 2-0 and to be named player of the series, it is very special. I think it will take some time to understand and assimilate it and this is a very special victory for us.

Statement given on the historic victory in India

Simon Harmer said in response to a question asked by ‘PTI’, ‘Yes, I think when I signed the Kolpak deal, one of the conditions was that I would never be able to play for my country again, so I had accepted this fact.’

Harmer, who won the ‘Player of the Series’ award by taking 17 wickets in two Test matches in India, was expecting an excellent performance from himself on this tour. He said, ‘I always wanted to be able to look back at the end of my career and say that I was the best for myself.

India Vs South Africa 2nd Test Match: The South African cricket team that toured India has performed brilliantly in Test cricket. By taking a 1-0 lead in the Test series, the South African team has brought itself closer to winning the series. While the players have received a lot of applause for their excellent performance, a statement by team coach Shukri Conrad has become a bone of contention, due to which he is being reprimanded. On the fourth day of the second Test match in Guwahati, the South African coach used a word for the Indian team which has a controversial history in cricket. After this statement, he was reprimanded by Indian legend Anil Kumble and former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn.

South African coach gave controversial statement

On the fourth day of the second Test match being played between India and South Africa, South Africa declared its second innings at 260 runs and gave a target of 549 runs to Team India. After the end of the day’s play, when South African coach Conrad was asked in the press conference why he delayed declaring the innings, he gave a controversial statement in response. Conrad said that he wanted to tire Team India and see them crawling on their knees. For which he used the English word ‘Grovel’.

The South African coach’s use of the word ‘grovel’ became the real cause of controversy because during the West Indies tour in 1976, England captain Tony Greig had used this word for the West Indies team, which means lying face down on the ground or crawling on the knees. There was a lot of uproar on this matter then.

Anil Kumble and Dale Steyn reprimanded

The use of this word in cricket after 49 years has created controversy and Conrad is facing criticism. Before the start of the fifth day’s play, Indian veteran spinner Anil Kumble advised the South African coach not to be arrogant and to remain humble.

Kumble said in the Star Sports show, “There is history associated with this word. 50 years ago the England captain said this in the West Indies and we saw what happened. South Africa has probably won this series but when you are at the top, the choice of your words is important. At such times, humility is most important.”

At the same time, former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn also appeared unhappy with the coach’s statement and clearly said that he is not in support of it. Stan also said in the same show, “I am not in support of it. His style was probably not as tough as Tony Greig. But that does not matter. You cannot use such words. It is very disappointing.”