Matt Kuhnemann thumb injury: Aussie spin situation up in the air
Matt Kuhnemann expects to have his thumb put under the microscope in the first Test, while Todd Murphy is unsure if he’ll play. DANIEL CHERNY has the latest from Galle.
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Matt Kuhnemann expects Sri Lanka to target his damaged right thumb with short-pitched bowling should the left-arm spinner be cleared to play in the first Test starting on Wednesday.
Kuhnemann’s prediction comes as fellow tweaker Todd Murphy concedes he is no guarantee to play when the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy series begins in Galle, with pitch conditions set to shape whether Australia opts for two or three specialist tweakers.
The tourists have convened in the coastal Sri Lankan city ahead of the two-Test series. Kuhnemann has joined teammates in Galle after being given the green light to travel to Asia despite suffering a compound dislocation and fracture to his thumb when fielding off his own bowling in the Big Bash League earlier in the month.
The three-Test bowler is a walk-up start if fit given selectors’ keenness to pick a left-arm finger spin option, with training and recovery ahead of the match to determine whether Kuhnemann is ultimately given the nod.
Sporting a green shield to protect the wounded digit, Kuhnemann said ahead of training on Sunday that he was not experiencing any discomfort.
“It feels fine. There’s no pain. So far, so good,” Kuhnemann said.
“The next couple of days here in Sri Lanka training will just be about a bit more intensity, a bigger bowl and probably just doing (it) in these conditions, in the humidity, in the hotness, and then see how it pulls up. I’m confident it’ll be right but just see how it pulls up the next couple of days.”
Asked if he was at risk of further injury should his thumb cop further punishment, Kuhnemann pointed to the fact there was danger of injury at all times.
And to the suggestion that the home side could look to inflict further damage with a bouncer barrage, the spinner appeared unfazed.
“I’m a spinner batting low, so I get that anyway, with a bad finger or a good finger. So no we’ll see what happens,” Kuhnemann said.
“I think there’s a risk to all the fingers in your body. I think when you go into a game, there’s always risks. I’m probably lucky that it’s healing really well. Still a few days to go and it’s getting better by the day.”
Providing Kuhnemann is fit, Victorian Murphy meanwhile is likely only to play should selectors choose to enter the match with Nathan Lyon as a frontline spinner.
Off-spinner Murphy is likely vying with state teammate Scott Boland for one position in the XI.
“I understand the fact that in these conditions, I think if you look at it across the board, it’s quite important to have spin both ways,” Murphy said.
“So where that leaves me? I’m still unsure. But yeah, I think they’ll be still open to playing three spinners either, if the conditions suggest that as well. So yeah, where I sit in that, I’m not 100 per cent sure, and probably find a bit more today when we get to the ground, what that looks like. So yeah, I suppose just trying to (put my) best foot forward and make sure the opportunity comes, I’m ready to take it.”
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Originally published as Matt Kuhnemann thumb injury: Aussie spin situation up in the air
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