Aussie Star Matt Kuhnemann Faces Setback Amid Bowling Controversy

Kuhnemann reported for bowling action | 00:52

Matt Kuhnemann’s month has gone from bad to worse with an injury ruling the spinner out of Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia.

One week on from being cited by ICC officials for having a suspect bowling action, Kuhnemann was expected to return for Tasmania in Adelaide on Tuesday.

However, he has been ruled out with a thumb injury.

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The spinner suffered a dislocated thumb in the BBL last month but was able to play through the injury for Australia’s Test series against Sri Lanka.

However, Kuhnemann was not medically cleared to play for Tasmania despite the injury reportedly getting better not worse.

Kuhnemann’s thumb injury is not on his bowling hand, which ultimately allowed him to play in both Tests in Galle.

It’s understood the decision to rule him out of the Sheffield Shield clash is just precautionary.

The injury also won’t prevent the ICC from testing Kuhnemann in the next fortnight in regards to his bowling action, which came under the microscope in the series against Sri Lanka.

The biomechanical testing will be completed at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

The 28-year-old will have markers on his arm and several cameras filming him bowl.

Kuhnemann will be required to bowl with a similar speed, run up and ball revolutions to what he did in Sri Lanka.

The ICC will then determine if it is legal or not.

For it to be cleared, Kuhnemann will have to show his arm does not straighten by more than the stipulated 15 degrees.

If it is, however, deemed to not be a legal action, Kuhnemann would be suspended from bowling until he has modified his bowling action and undertaken another test successfully.

But former Australian captain Tim Paine has defended Kuhnemann

“I think there’s a bit of flexion, not dissimilar to a Jasprit Bumrah,” Paine said on SEN on Monday.

“I think he’d be flat as a tack I’d imagine. In cricket, being accused of throwing is not a great mark to have against your name. You’re being accused in a way, of cheating.

“I imagine in such a public forum, that would be very hard for him to deal with that. He’s probably walked off that day on top of the world, and by the time he’s back in the hotel room he’s at absolute rock bottom because he’s fighting, if you like, to save his career.

“Go back through the history of cricket and we’ve had guys who have played hundreds of Test matches combined who have (much worse actions) than Matthew Kuhnemann. I feel like it’s a bit of a token ‘we’ll look like we’re policing this, even though we have never before,’ and Kuhnemann has been the unlucky one.’”

Matt Kuhnemann will have his bowling action reviewed. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)Source: AFP

Kuhnemann was a standout performer in Australia’s series sweep of Sri Lanka, finishing with 16 wickets at an average of 17.2 runs.

However, Sri Lankan players took issue with his action.

Leading cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan reported multiple senior members of the Sri Lankan dressing room raised concerns about Kuhnemann’s bowling action during the first Test.

According to the report, Sri Lankan players were “puzzled” as to why Kuhnemann was only reported after the series had been completed, and were surprised that he had never been cited for the action since he has been a professional cricketer for eight years.

Matt Kuhnemann starred for Australia against Sri Lanka, taking 16 wickets. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

And the ICC issued a statement last week saying Kuhnemann had been reported as a result of concerns held by the umpires.

“Australia’s left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has been reported with a suspect bowling action during the second match of their ICC World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka in Galle,” an ICC statement said.

“The match officials’ report cited concerns about the legality of the 28-year-old’s bowling action.

“Kuhnemann will undergo an independent assessment of his bowling action at an ICC Accredited Testing facility to determine the legality of his bowling action.”

In the meantime, Kuhnemann is not available to be selected in any international matches sanctioned by the ICC.