Australia’s spin bowler Matthew Kuhnemann will not play in Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield match against South Australia, as he is set to undergo tests on his bowling action following a report from match officials during Australia’s recent 2-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka.
Bowling Action Reported
Kuhnemann’s reported action has caused a stir, especially after his impressive performance in the Sri Lanka series, where he took 16 wickets. Despite this, match officials flagged his bowling action as potentially illegal, prompting the need for further examination.
Long-Standing Injury Impact
Kuhnemann, who had been expected to feature in the Shield match starting on Tuesday in Adelaide, was ruled out on Monday due to a long-standing thumb injury on his non-bowling hand. The injury, which required surgery after he broke his thumb playing for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League earlier in January, had not been fully addressed despite Kuhnemann playing through it during the Test series against Sri Lanka.
ICC Testing Looms
With his omission from the Sheffield Shield match, Kuhnemann now faces testing on his bowling action, with International Cricket Council (ICC) officials expected to examine him at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.
Support from Teammates
Kuhnemann’s case has sparked a wave of debate, especially given his previously spotless record across more than 100 professional matches, including five Test matches and four one-day internationals. Steve Smith, who captained the Australian side in the absence of the injured Pat Cummins, expressed confidence that Kuhnemann would be cleared after the testing process.
Tasmania captain Jordan Silk also voiced support for the bowler, praising his contributions to the national team.
“He has obviously had a fantastic couple of weeks away with the Aussie side, and was a big factor in them winning that series over there,” Silk told Australian media on Monday. “It’s come as a shock to a lot of people, but all we can do as an organisation is wrap our arms around him and look forward to having him back around the group.”
What’s Next for Kuhnemann?
As Kuhnemann prepares for testing, the cricket world eagerly awaits the results, with his teammates and fans hopeful that his bowling action will be cleared and he can return to action soon.
