Simon Harmer believes South Africa can exploit Australia’s vulnerabilities as both teams prepare for a decisive final Test after the hosts levelled the series 1-1.
South Africa head into the series decider in Cape Town with renewed confidence after bouncing back from their defeat in Durban to register a commanding victory in Gqeberha. Off-spinner Simon Harmer believes the team has learned valuable lessons and is now better equipped to adapt to whatever conditions Newlands presents.
Australia’s batting line-up, once renowned for its dominance through players such as Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and David Warner, has shown signs of vulnerability. Even experienced batter Steven Smith has demonstrated that the Australian side can be put under pressure when opponents bowl with discipline and exploit their weaknesses.
Harmer, who scored 82 runs and claimed two wickets in the Gqeberha Test, said South Africa’s ability to recover from difficult situations had been a major positive.
“To be 1-0 down and be able to turn it around, then get them to 40 for four and put that pressure on them, was really nice to see,” Harmer said. He added that the team had gained confidence from realising that Australia could be challenged when South Africa executed their plans effectively.
South Africa learn from Durban mistakes
South Africa’s first-innings batting in Durban was marked by poor shot selection, with several players losing their wickets without facing particularly threatening deliveries. Harmer acknowledged that the team had to take responsibility for its mistakes.
“If you look at the dismissals, it was quite evident there weren’t a lot of good balls that got us out, but we managed to find ways to get out,” he said.
Australia’s Matt Renshaw had demonstrated the importance of patience in the opening Test, receiving support from Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon. South Africa took those lessons into the second Test, where captain Temba Bavuma produced a career-best 179, built on concentration and disciplined shot selection.
The runs gave South Africa the platform to put Australia under sustained pressure. The hosts claimed 20 wickets in 149 overs in Gqeberha, compared with 16 wickets in 195 overs in Durban, highlighting the improvement in their bowling performance.
Harmer said the team had been frustrated by its inability to capitalise on Australia’s weaknesses in the first Test but was pleased with the response in the second.
Rabada’s return strengthens the attack
Kagiso Rabada’s return proved crucial for South Africa, adding pace, aggression and pressure to the bowling attack. His sustained speed and ability to challenge batters also appeared to boost Marco Jansen’s confidence.
Although Anrich Nortje suffered an apparent groin injury during his fourth over, Wiaan Mulder stepped up as the third seamer and delivered an impressive performance, helping South Africa complete their comeback.
Harmer praised the collective effort, highlighting the contributions of Jansen, Rabada and Mulder.
The off-spinner said the team had been determined to respond after failing to perform at its best in Durban. He added that the character shown by different players had been central to the victory and would provide momentum heading into the final Test.
Spinner selection remains a key question
South Africa’s biggest challenge ahead of the Cape Town decider could be selecting the right bowling combination. Their decision to field two spinners in Durban did not deliver the expected results, as the pitch offered less turn than anticipated.
With Nortje unlikely to be available for the final Test, the selectors could consider Corbin Bosch or Gerald Coetzee as a like-for-like pace replacement.
The role of specialist spinner Harmer is also likely to be debated. He has bowled 97.5 overs across the first two Tests, the most by any bowler from either side, but has returned figures of four wickets for 291 runs.
Harmer admitted that his performances had fallen short of his own expectations, while acknowledging that conditions in both Tests had favoured seam bowling more than spin.
Despite those returns, retaining Harmer could make tactical sense because Australia have several left-handed batters. However, Aiden Markram can offer an off-spin option, while the experience of left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj could prove valuable in a series decider.
Another possibility is to leave out both specialist spinners and consider Senuran Muthusamy, whose batting could provide additional depth if spin is expected to play a limited role.
Newlands traditionally provides a reason to consider including a spinner, although the conditions for an October Test there remain relatively untested. The final selection will depend on how South Africa assess the pitch and balance their attack.
A team built on collective contributions
Harmer believes the current South African side differs from the team he made his debut for in 2015. That earlier generation featured match-winners capable of deciding games almost single-handedly, including AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla.
The current squad, he explained, relies more on contributions from different players rather than expecting one or two stars to carry the team.
He said the team’s ability to find different match-winners was a major reason for its strong atmosphere and growing confidence.
Harmer returned to the South African set-up over the past year after coach Shukri Conrad brought him back into the fold for overseas tours to the subcontinent. He subsequently became South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in both Pakistan and India, helping the team recover from defeat in Lahore to win in Rawalpindi and secure a historic home victory over India.
With the series now level at 1-1, South Africa will look to carry that momentum into Cape Town. Their ability to adapt to the conditions, make the right selection decisions and maintain the discipline displayed in Gqeberha could determine whether they finish the series with another memorable victory.