Sheffield Shield: Matthew Kuhnemann spins Tasmania to win over NSW

In the lead up to the last Sheffield Shield game of the season, Matt Kuhnemann said he never doubted his action when he was forced to undergo testing. Now he’s spun Tasmania to victory.

Matt Kuhnemann spun Tassie to victory. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Australian Test spinner Matthew Kuhnemann’s confidence in his own bowling action has shone through in Tasmania’s final game of the Sheffield Shield season.

The left-armer dashed New South Wales’ hopes of making the grand final after taking 5-49 to end the Blues’ title hopes.

NSW started day four at 0-71 chasing a monster target of 529, aiming for a place in the decider against South Australia next week.

Despite a 112-run opening stand between Aussie opener Sam Konstas (68 runs off 117 balls) and Blake Nikitaras, the Tigers were able to gain control as the visitors slumped to 5-140.

Eventually they were all out for 202 with Gabe Bell (2-63) the only other multiple wicket taker.

With his first season with Tasmania now having come to a close, Kuhnemann was confident he had made the right decision switching allegiances from Queensland.

“Personally for myself, it has definitely paid off,” he said.

“I’m playing some games for Australia and taking a few wickets. From a team base, I hope it’s worked out well for them. I’ve loved it, they’re a great bunch of lads and I’ve really enjoyed the coaching staff as well.

“I think it’s really important when you come down to different stadiums, being able to change how you bowl.

“I’ve had to come up with a way down here, there’s not much spin. Trying to hold up one end then attack the third, fourth days.

“That’s something I will keep working on.”

Matt Kuhnemann in action. Photo: Steve Bell/Getty Images.

Tigers captain Jordan Silk was named the player of the match in his 100th Shield appearance.

He scored a century in the opening innings.

At the toss, Silk had already turned the game on its head, becoming the first skipper to elect to bat in 31 games across seven years.

“I think the boys will definitely sit down in the off-season, maybe it’s the best way to win these games,” Kuhnemann said of the decision.

“I think most sessions we won, very good to finish on the season on a high.

“It sets us up quite well for next season.”

While his domestic commitments might now be over, Kuhnemann said he was hopeful of earning an opportunity in English county cricket.

He’s also hoping to be part of Australia’s Test squads for the World Test Championship final and tour of the West Indies later this year.

PRE-MATCH

Australian Test spinner Matthew Kuhnemann says he was “never really worried” about being banned after being reported for a suspect bowling action.

Kuhnemann was forced to undergo testing following the series against Sri Lanka after being reported to match officials.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the saga, the 28-year-old said he always had confidence in his action.

He said he wasn’t insulted to have been forced to undergo testing.

“I was never really worried about the whole thing. I accepted the process and moved on with it,” he said.

“Over 100 professional games and never got questioned. That’s why I was always confident.

“I’ve bowled millions of balls in my career. I never had doubt prior to the test, it was never going to change my point of view.

“End of the day, I had to follow a process. The umpires had to follow a process.”

According to the ICC’s Illegal Bowling Regulations, a player is deemed to have an illegal bowling action if their elbow joint exceeds 15 degrees at any point between when the arm goes horizontal and when the ball is released.

While “flexing, cocking or twisting the wrist during the delivery action is permitted”.

Kuhnemann was in the change rooms with Australian teammates in Sri Lanka when he heard his action had been challenged.

“When it first happened there was definitely some shock, when I found out the news,” he said.

“My next question was ‘what was the process and what did it look like’.

“I was very grateful for the support that Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania provided me through that time.

“I accepted the process and it was very straightforward and simple, so I was happy to get it done as soon as possible.

“I was always confident I’d be fine.”

While the results of his bowling test were analysed, Kuhnemann had almost two weeks at his home on the Gold Coast to rest and recover from an intense three months of cricket.

That included continuing his recovery from a broken thumb from the Big Bash, which cost him two nights in hospital after surgery to repair the compound fracture.

“It gave me 10 days to rest and let my thumb heal — it’s not very often you get a break in the middle of the season,” he said.

“It was a chance to let my body recover because I’d bowled a fair bit before that Test series in Sri Lanka.”

Kuhnemann is back in action for the Tasmanian Tigers in their last Sheffield Shield match of the season, a day-nighter in Hobart against NSW, which needs to win to make the final against South Australia in Adelaide.

Originally published as Sheffield Shield: Matthew Kuhnemann spins Tasmania to win over NSW