Simon Ross Harmer, born in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, signed for the Club in 2017 on an initial one-year deal and has since become an Essex great with his destructive off-spin.
The all-rounder made an immediate impact, claiming an incredible 72 wickets at an average of 19.19 in his debut County Championship campaign, including two ten-wicket hauls. He played a vital role in helping Essex secure the Division One title.
During the lunch break of Day Two against Lancashire in April 2018, Simon Harmer was awarded his County Cap, becoming the 161st player to receive the honour.
In 2019, Harmer captained the T20 side to Vitality Blast success as Essex lifted the trophy for the first time. Leading from the front on Finals Day, the South African took 4-19 in the semi-final and 3-16 in the final, before hitting the winning runs to seal the title for Essex.
Just a few days later, he took another five-wicket haul, this time at Taunton, which brought his County Championship tally to 83 wickets that season at an average of 18.28. This helped Essex achieve a remarkable double, becoming the first county to win both trophies in the same season.
In 2020, Harmer was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year, and his consistent first-class performances earned him a recall to the South African Test squad in 2022 - his first call-up since 2015.
As of the end of the 2025 season, Simon Harmer boasts 513 first-class wickets for Essex at an average of 23.09, with best figures of 9-80 against Derbyshire in 2021. More than helpful with the bat, he has scored 3,046 runs, including a highest score of 102* against Surrey in 2018. The conclusion of the 2025 domestic season saw the right-arm off-spinner called up to the South Africa Men's Test squad.
During his time at Essex Cricket, Harmer has collected an incredible amount of awards and honours which include:
