Harmer relishing big match nerves
ESSEX Eagles may enter the game top of the County Championship and with home advantage on their side, but that doesn’t mean Simon Harmer won’t be jittery when his team take on Nottinghamshire Outlaws in the One-Day Cup semi-finals today.
The Eagles, who won seven of eight games en route to topping the South Group and are also top of Division One of the County Championship, bid to reach the final at Lord’s next month in a day-night clash in Chelmsford.
The visitors, who are top of Division Two in the longer form of the game, out-gunned Somerset in a high-scoring quarter-final on Tuesday. And while they may require something special to overcome Essex, South African allrounder Harmer is taking nothing for granted.
“Like they say, it’s all right to have butterflies, as long as they fly in formation,” said the 28-year-old.
“It’s a semi-final and it’s winner takes all, so there are definitely those nerves and anticipation that you get before a big game.
“But we just have to approach like we’ve approached our other games, and if we play the same kind of cricket that we have been doing, we’ll be able to win.
“It’s a home game for us, so Notts are going to find it tough to rock up and beat us.
“They’re a Division Two side and we’re playing in Division One, so they haven’t had the chance to see the type of cricket that we’re playing this season yet, so that might be something that goes in our favour.”
Having made five Test appearances for South Africa, Harmer brought an end to his international possibilities by joining Essex on a Kolpak deal for this season but, with things progressing so swimmingly, he has no regrets.
Harmer said: “The team have taken me under their wing nicely and I think that I’ve brought some balance in those middle overs, particularly in the four-day game.
“It was the right move for my cricket and the right move for my career, so I’m not looking back.
“I’ve landed with my bum in the butter at Essex, so to speak.”
Meanwhile, Outlaws veteran Chris Read has designs on bowing out on a high as he nears the end of his 50-over career with the county.
The 38-year-old wicketkeeper was captain when the Outlaws won the Yorkshire Bank 40 with victory over Glamorgan at Lord’s in 2013, and is set to retire at the end of the season.
Read has been part of the furniture at Trent Bridge since 1998, when he made the switch from Gloucestershire, and he cannot envisage a more fitting finale than returning to the Home of Cricket for this year’s final.
“My personal ambitions have always been to win trophies, and to play at Lord’s is a wonderful day out, whether it’s your first season or last,” said the former England man.
“It’s always disappointing when you go out of a cup competition, so we definitely don’t want it to be at this stage – 2013 was a great experience and we’d love to be back there.
“Quite a few of the guys played in that game against Glamorgan, but there are others who didn't and are desperate to get there.
“We just have to stay focused, not get carried away, and make sure we prepare as well as we always do.
“We went into the group games knowing we were still a long way from Lord’s but now it’s only one game, and it’s there for us to grab if we can play well enough.”