Door closed on representing England, says Simon Harmer

The Essex off-spinner, in his fourth year as a Kolpak player for the county champions, was speaking after taking match figures of 14 for 131 as his side beat Surrey in the Bob Willis Trophy

Simon Harmer believes the door has closed on any chance of him representing England in international cricket, but he has not ruled out holding discussions around the possibility of a return to the South African fold.

The Essex off-spinner, in his fourth year as a Kolpak player for the county champions, ended with match figures of 14 for 131 as his side beat Surrey in the Bob Willis Trophy.

It means that Harmer, still only 31, has now taken 20 wickets so far in this shortened season.

Speaking after his eight-wicket haul, which followed six wickets in the first innings at Chelmsford, he admitted that upcoming changes to the Kolpak ruling will put pay to any opportunity he might have had of playing for England – something he has tentatively discussed in the past.

Asked whether he thought that door was now closed, he said: “I think so. With the Kolpak ruling changing, as far as I know with clarity, the Kolpaks will fall away at the end of the year when England leaves the EU and therefore the door closes.

“I have explored trying to get onto a different visa so that I can have more rights, in terms of buying property and a whole load of other things but I got a very stern no from Alan Fordham at the ECB. As far as I am concerned there is no future there.”

Of his wider international ambitions, he added: “It is a difficult question to answer. There is a lot happening back in South Africa and I don’t know what the feeling is back home.

“As far as I’m concerned, my main focus is with my employer which is Essex. I don’t look too far ahead and just try to do as well as I possibly can.

“If other things happen and fall into place then what will be will be. I can only focus on myself, my own performances, on Essex and trying to contribute as I can to winning as many trophies as I possible can. As a professional cricketer that’s what it all boils down to.

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“There are a lot of teams with a lot of players that don’t win trophies and I think we are in a very special place as a team and I think we need to capitalise on that.

“It is a once in a generation thing and I think there is something very special brewing here at Essex with the players who are coming through with the players we already have. I think we can really be a dominant force in county cricket for a long time to come. That is my focus and I am quite excited about being a part of that and the rest of the noise is just noise.”

According to ESPNcricinfo, Harmer, who has played five Tests for South Africa, will become an overseas player for Essex in 2021 thanks to a clause in his contract. It has already been announced that counties to be allowed to field two overseas players in four-day and 50-over cricket from next year.

^{Harmer took 14 wickets in Essex's win against Surrey}

Among the consequences of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, the Cotonou Agreement will no longer apply, rendering the Kolpak ruling void in the United Kingdom. Players signed up under the ruling will have their registrations cancelled on December 31, 2020.

On the possibility of holding talks with Cricket South Africa director of cricket Graeme Smith, Harmer explained: “Yeah, I think there needs to be an open-door policy from both sides and there needs to be commitment from both sides.

“There is quite a bit that needs to happen but I am all for having discussions but for now it is a long way off.

“There is a lot happening back home in South Africa to do with coronavirus. When is cricket going to get going again etc? I try to keep things short term and try and take care of the now. If you are doing the right things then perhaps bigger things might happen.

“I am a believe in positive energy and putting positive energy into the universe, so whatever is meant to be will be.”

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