Australian left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has put concerns over his bowling action behind him and is now setting his sights on a potential Test tour of the West Indies later this year.
Kuhnemann, 28, was cleared by the ICC to continue bowling in late February after being reported for a suspect action following Australia’s Test series win in Sri Lanka. He was temporarily suspended and underwent testing by cricket’s governing body, enduring a 10-day wait for the results. However, he remained confident throughout the process.
Confident Through the Process
Speaking to the media for the first time since being cleared, Kuhnemann reflected on the experience, revealing that he used the waiting period to relax with family on the Gold Coast.
“It was actually great to have a bit of downtime with my family,” Kuhnemann said. “[The wait] wasn’t as nerve-wracking as people may have thought.”
While acknowledging the initial shock of being reported, he expressed gratitude for the support he received from Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania.
“I’ve played over 100 professional games and had never been questioned … I was always confident that I would be fine,” he added.
Had the ICC testing found that Kuhnemann extended his elbow by more than 15 degrees, he would have faced a ban until he could correct his action. Fortunately for him, that wasn’t the case, allowing him to move forward without any restrictions.
Resilience Built Through Challenges
Kuhnemann was Australia’s standout bowler in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 16 wickets at an average of 17.18. His performance was even more impressive considering he played through pain after breaking his right thumb in the Big Bash League in January.
Reflecting on his career, Kuhnemann believes that overcoming obstacles—whether it be injury, questions about his action, or competition for selection—has only made him stronger.
“It is the life of a professional sportsman these days. People might doubt you, but it’s how you take the doubt and turn it into a positive,” he said. “I’ve never been more confident in my ability as a cricketer. Over in Sri Lanka, that was probably the best time of my career—the ball was coming out beautifully.”
Next Targets: Sheffield Shield, England, and West Indies
Kuhnemann is now focused on helping Tasmania finish their Sheffield Shield campaign on a high as they take on New South Wales in a day-night fixture starting Saturday.
Beyond domestic cricket, he has his eyes on a possible stint with Durham in England before aiming for a place in Australia’s squad for the three-Test series against the West Indies in June.
“I’ve never been to the West Indies … but it can take some spin,” Kuhnemann said. “If the opportunity comes, I’d love to go over there and play.”
With his bowling action cleared and his confidence at an all-time high, Kuhnemann is ready to continue proving himself on the international stage.
