Australia spinner Matt Kuhnemann expressed confidence in his bowling action despite being reported after the Test series in Sri Lanka, where he was eventually cleared by the ICC. He thanked his family, friends, teammates, and Cricket Australia for their support throughout the process. Kuhnemann, who has not faced action citations since 2017, missed a Sheffield Shield round due to a thumb injury but aims to return before the season ends. He is optimistic about his potential role in the upcoming Test series against West Indies and views the resolution of this issue as a significant step forward in his career.
“I am incredibly thankful for all the support I’ve received from my family, friends, and teammates, as well as from Cricket Australia, who stood by me throughout this period,” he expressed in a statement released by Cricket Australia.
“It was disappointing to conclude such a successful Test series for Australia in that manner. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently believed in my bowling action, and I’m always striving to enhance my spin bowling skills in varying conditions.
“I found the process to be quite fair, and I appreciated how professionally the testing was explained and carried out.”
Kuhnemann, whose bowling action had never been questioned in his career since 2017, could have participated in domestic cricket while the testing process was ongoing. However, he opted out of the previous Sheffield Shield round to manage the thumb injury he sustained during the Sri Lanka series. He indicated that he might return before the season concludes, with two rounds of the Shield still remaining.
“I’m eager to wrap up the season with Tasmania once my thumb is fully healed, and then begin my preparations off the field,” he mentioned.
Kuhnemann is a likely candidate for the three-match Test series against the West Indies in June and July, where certain venues may favor two spinners. He is also considered a key player for Australia’s forthcoming Test series in the subcontinent against India in early 2027.
“We are delighted for Matt that this issue has now been resolved,” stated Ben Oliver, CA’s executive general manager of national teams. “It has been a challenging time for Matt, yet he has handled himself exceptionally well.
“He has received the unwavering support of Australian cricket, and he can now confidently move on to the next phase of his international career.”
During the Sri Lanka series, Nathan Lyon labeled Kuhnemann as Australia’s top bowler, while stand-in captain Steven Smith expressed his astonishment that Kuhnemann was reported.
Indian spinner R Ashwin has previously noted that Kuhnemann’s wrist action creates an optical illusion regarding his bowling technique.
“A notable aspect of his action is his loading,” Ashwin commented on his YouTube channel during Kuhnemann’s debut Test series against India in 2023. “For Kuhnemann, his wrist breaks during the loading phase. Therefore, it might appear as if there’s an elbow extension. However, that is not the case in his action. His wrist is definitely involved, though.”