Cricket player movement: Matt Kuhnemann could switch to Tasmania, Nic Maddinson in limbo

There could be some major movement in the Sheffield Shield ranks, with Queensland’s Test spinner Matt Kuhnemann in demand. All the latest cricket whispers in this week’s Leg Buys column.

Tasmania is exploring a move for Test spinner Matt Kuhnemann, who has been frozen out of Queensland’s Sheffield Shield team for the entire season.

Kuhnemann, 27, made an impressive entrance into Test cricket 12 months ago when he took nine wickets at 31.11 across three Tests in India, including a five-wicket haul on a rank turner to drive Australia to victory in Indore.

However, the Bulls have preferred Mitchell Swepson as their red-ball spinner and Kuhnemann has been relegated to regular second XI cricket.

The left-armer remains contracted to Queensland for next season but the Tigers are again interested in prising him from the Sunshine State after dabbling in the idea at the end of last season.

Tasmania is enjoying an outstanding Shield campaign and is on track to host the final. However, the Tigers’ attack has been heavily reliant on seam.

Matt Kuhnemann played Test cricket for Australia last year – but struggles to find his way into the Queensland team. Picture: Getty

Off-spinner Jarrod Freeman, who is also a handy batter, has served as Tasmania’s primary tweaker, although he has just 13 wickets for the season at a modest 46.69.

Kuhnemann has remained in Queensland’s white-ball team this season and was part of the Brisbane Heat side that won the Big Bash League title.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Paddy Dooley has also played white-ball cricket for Tasmania this season after initially bursting on to the scene for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL.

Kuhnemann shapes as a likely selection for Australia’s Test tour of Sri Lanka next year given Ashton Agar appears to have been passed by as a regular red-ball bowler.

Australia’s domestic spinning stocks are dominated by right-armers.

Corey Rocchiccioli is one of the most prolific wicket-takers in Shield cricket. Picture: Getty

Western Australia’s offie Corey Rocchiccioli is fourth on the season’s list of top Shield wicket-takers with 37.

Todd Murphy, who also made his Test debut in India early last year, has taken just 13 wickets at 44.07 for Victoria, having struggled with shoulder issues.

Queensland has already indicated to veteran batter Joe Burns that he will not get a deal next season, while former Australian one-day player Sam Heazlett is also on the outer.

The Bulls would need to release Kuhnemann from his contract for any move to proceed.

IT’S A MADDO HOUSE

While attention rightly centres around the future of out-of-contract and concussion-prone Victorian batter Will Pucovski, there is also intrigue around what will happen to another member of Victoria’s top order.

Having recovered from an ACL tear he suffered midway through the 2022-23 BBL season, Maddinson, 32, has put a poor BBL campaign with the Melbourne Renegades behind him to post three centuries in as many matches to lead the Vics’ charge towards what they hope will be a third straight Shield final.

Nic Maddinson is in blistering form – but has no contract beyond this year. Picture: Getty

But just like Pucovski, Maddinson is uncontracted beyond this season. There have been murmurings of a potential homecoming to NSW, although it’s understood there has been little movement at the station on that front.

The Vics are bracing for Marcus Harris to lose his Cricket Australia contract, although that could be offset by the possible elevation of Matt Short.

Elsewhere, NSW veteran and white-ball star Daniel Hughes remains without a state deal for next season.

WADE’S DIFFICULT CHOICE

Matthew Wade is facing a likely choice between missing a Shield final or foregoing part of his Indian Premier League contract.

Wade is tied to the IPL’s Gujarat Titans, whose first game of the season comes in the early hours of March 25, which is day five of the Shield final.

Wade, who returned to the Tigers as an opener in their win over Victoria, is believed to be leaning towards playing for Tassie should the Tigers qualify as expected.

The occasional Australian white-ball captain looks bound for the Twenty20 World Cup in June.

** Leg Buys is Code Sports’ regular column looking at player and staff movement in cricket, particularly through an Australian prism.

Originally published as Cricket player movement: Matt Kuhnemann could switch to Tasmania, Nic Maddinson in limbo