South Africa's players celebrate the dismissal of India's Yashasvi Jaiswal on the third day of the second cricket test match between India and South Africa in Guwahati, India, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
“Kolkata ka wicket to alag that. Yeh to pura road tha.”
These were Kuldeep Yadav’s words after Day 2 of the Guwahati Test. It was hard work for Indian spinners trying to create chances on a red-soil wicket on which the ball hardly deviated.
But it was a different story for Simon Harmer. While in Kolkata, all he had to do was pitch the ball in the right areas to get wickets, in Guwahati, he used his experience and skill to get rid of Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The left-hander was well set on 58 and seemed to have the antidote to whatever Harmer did to engineer the Kolkata heist. But a cunning delivery from the off-spinner left a bewildered Jaiswal staring at the pitch.
The Harmer Delivery That Dismissed Jaiswal
Breaking down the wicket that ended a well-set 58-run innings
1
Round the Stumps
Harmer angles the delivery in from round the stumps, creating an unusual line for the left-hander
2
Indecision Created
Jaiswal caught in two minds - should he go forward or stay back? The angle created doubt
3
Weight on Back Foot
Jaiswal commits his weight to the backfoot, fending at the delivery defensively
4
Extra Bounce Strikes
Harmer's thumb-driven over-spin generates extra bounce off the seam, taking the leading edge
5
Leading Edge
The unexpected bounce produces a leading edge as Jaiswal tried to defend
6
Jansen's Diving Catch
Marco Jansen at short third dives forward, plucking the ball inches off the ground to complete the dismissal
The Technical Secret
Harmer's thumb keeps the seam upright, creating over-spin. When the ball hits the seam, it generates extra bounce or sharp turn - the weapon that bamboozled a well-set Jaiswal
Indian Express InfoGenIE
The ball, angled in from round the stumps, had him in two minds whether to go forward or back. With his weight on the backfoot, Jaiswal fended at it, only to get a leading edge due to the extra bounce, which carried to short third fielder Marco Jansen, who dived forward to pluck it inches off the ground.
Former England spinner Monty Panesar delved into the finer points of Harmer’s skill.
“The thumb keeps the seam upright and gives more over-spin. When the ball bounces, if it hits the seam, you may get a bit more bounce or sharp turn,” Panesar told The Indian Express. “If you don’t use your thumb as much, there’s a chance that you get more side spin.”
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After Jaiswal, Harmer soon dismissed Sai Sudharsan, whose pull was snapped up by Ryan Rickelton at mid-wicket, opening the door for Jansen to run through the line-up. Harmer did what he does best, closing the lid on scoring and testing batters’ techniques.
However, it is not just the extra bounce that Harmer gets that troubles batters. Quite often, visiting spinners on Indian turners resort to too many variations too quickly or resort to negative tactics. But Harmer relies on his stock delivery.
“He may bowl it slower or quicker but the arm-speed seems the same,” said Panesar. “His position is really good and he trusts that process. His lines are quite attacking, that’s why he troubled Indian batsmen. Normally overseas spinners get a bit defensive in their lines and lengths, which is what Indian batsmen want. But Harmer’s not afraid.”
Panesar also questioned the techniques of Indian batters against quality spin. “I don’t think this particular top six has the defence against quality spin. Harmer understands that very well and has the courage to continue to bowl attacking lines.”
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When Harmer came to India in 2015, he was far from being a finished product, but since then, has become a county cricket stalwart .
“He’s not a rookie spinner who just popped up, and you send him to India. Not like England has done in the past. You send your Tom Hartleys and Shoaib Bashirs, and you’re not quite sure what you’re going to get from them because they’re so young and haven’t really found their own game yet. Harmer knows his game inside out,” former England batsman Nick Knight told The Indian Express.
That’s a result of working day in-day-out, season after season on the county circuit. It’s not just the skills which have been refined, but through his journey, Harmer has also understood his own bowling. “Here’s a guy who’s really honest with himself. If he has a good day, he’ll talk to you about it. If he has a bad day, he’ll talk to you about it. He’s 30-plus (36) years old. He’s not going to be daunted or threatened by expectations,” Knight concluded.
Tanishq Vaddi is a Sports Writer with the online team of The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. He primarily covers cricket and is known for his in-depth analysis and technical reporting on the game.
Professional Background
Role: He covers a wide range of cricketing action, including international matches (Tests, T20Is), domestic tournaments (Challenger Trophy), and major cricket leagues (IPL, WPL).
Education: Tanishq holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from MVSR Engineering College and a PG Diploma in English Journalism (Print) from the Asian School of Journalism.
Experience: Before joining The Indian Express in late 2022, he gained experience covering the startup ecosystem at YourStory and worked as a copywriter at Story Digital.
Key Areas of Coverage
Tanishq’s writing often focuses on the technical and psychological aspects of cricket. His notable work includes:
Technical Analysis: Explaining bowling actions (e.g., Simon Harmer’s bounce) and batting techniques (e.g., Ben Duckett’s sweep shot).
Interviews: He has interviewed prominent figures such as former England player Nick Knight, bowling coach Rajib Datta, and mental health coach Paddy Upton.
Statistical Comparisons: Detailed career analysis, such as comparing Shubman Gill’s early career stats with legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.
Regional Cricket: Reporting on developments in South Indian cricket, including the appointment of Gary Stead as the head coach for Andhra.
Notable Recent Articles
"IND vs SA 2nd Test: How did Simon Harmer beat Yashasvi Jaiswal with bounce?" (Nov 2025)
"2026 Under-19 World Cup: Bowling coach outlines India's preparation" (Nov 2025)
"Nick Knight interview: Joe Root will score big runs in Australia" (Nov 2025)
"Gary Stead appointed as head coach for Andhra for the 25/26 season" (Sept 2025)
"Jason Gillespie explains what makes Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins so special, and why reverse swing will be key with Kookaburra ball"
You can follow his latest reports on the Indian Express website or via his Twitter handle @TanishqVaddi. ... Read More
