Matt Kuhnemann is expected to return to cricket with Tasmania as he prepares for scientific testing on his bowling action after being reported in Sri Lanka
Tasmania expect Kuhnemann to play through bowling tests
Tasmania expect Matt Kuhnemann to play in their next Sheffield Shield match as Australia's latest spin sensation fights to save his bowling action.
Kuhnemann is back in Australia after his superb tour of Sri Lanka ended on a sour note after being reported earlier this week for a suspect bowling action.
The spinner did not play in Tasmania's one-dayer against Victoria on Thursday, after landing in Brisbane and seeing the surgeon who operated on his thumb last month.
But AAP has been told Tasmania expect him to play against South Australia in Adelaide next Tuesday.
Under ICC rules, players reported with a suspect bowling action are able to continue to play domestic cricket until they are biomechanically tested, but cannot play internationals.
A date is yet to be set for Kuhnemann's test, but it must be completed within a fortnight of being reported.
It is expected it will take place at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, under the watchful eyes of the ICC panel of human movement specialists.
Kuhnemann will need to bowl at a similar speed like he did in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, while sending the ball down with similar revolutions.
The 28-year-old will then learn within weeks of the ICC tests whether his elbow does extend by more than the 15 degrees allowed when bowling.
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If so, Kuhnemann faces being rubbed out of bowling until he is able to prove he has remedied his action.
Even if he is cleared, Kuhnemann's Brisbane Heat coach Johan Botha warned on Tuesday the stigma would now follow the finger spinner.
Botha was banned from bowling shortly after his own international debut for South Africa in 2006 and had to clear his action several more times throughout his career.
"It is a long process and unfortunately either way if you get cleared or not it will always be there," Botha said on SEN.
"Guys think it's just a once-off and you get rid of it. That is not how it is.
"It never goes away because there is always someone in the crowd, someone in the opposition, or a match referee who wants to have a say or wants to feel a part of it."
Botha said it was possible questions over Kuhnemann's action could prove an optical illusion due to shoulder rotation.
But he also conceded issues could have crept in under fatigue, particularly with an older ball as Kuhnemann attempted to maintain a quicker pace to produce more fizz.
The South African also claimed Kuhnemann was likely a victim of his own success, after taking 16 wickets at 17.18 across Australia's two Test wins in Sri Lanka.
"It is never the guy who gets 0-100 or 1-125. It is the guys who get wickets and affect games," Botha said.
"They are the ones under scrutiny. Guys want to have a look at it and try and find fault."
Kuhnemann will likely form part of Australia's squad for the three-Test series of West Indies starting in June if available, given the slower wickets in the Caribbean.
But it is the 2027 tour of India where Australia will most need the spinner, given the variation he offers as a left-arm tweaker.
Cricket Australia has made clear they will support Kuhnemann, pointing out in a statement on Wednesday he had played 124 professional matches - including nine internationals – and never been reported before.
Sheffield Shield standings 2024-25
| Team | M | W | L | D | N/R | Ded. | Bat | Bowl | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
SA
|
9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5.46 | 8.3 | 51.76 |
|
2
QLD
|
9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7.5 | 8.3 | 36.8 |
|
3
NSW
|
9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6.99 | 7.4 | 35.39 |
|
4
WA
|
9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5.83 | 7.6 | 34.43 |
|
5
VIC
|
9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.19 | 8.3 | 32.49 |
|
6
TAS
|
9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6.41 | 7.2 | 27.61 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
D: Drawn
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
Bat: Batting Bonus
Bowl: Bowling Bonus
PTS: Total points