‘Suspect bowling action’: Test hero Kuhnemann at career crossroads after being reported

Spinner Matt Kuhnemann’s breakthrough tour of Sri Lanka has ended with his Test future under a cloud due to suspicions over his bowling action.

The left-armer has been told all variations in his repertoire, and not just a specific delivery, have come under scrutiny of match officials, who reported him for a suspect action after the second Test in Galle.

While a Cricket Australia source said a specific ball was referred to in the match officials’ report given to the team on Sunday night after the game’s conclusion, a source close to the player said Kuhnemann believes his general action was being queried.

The International Cricket Council did not make references to any specific delivery in a statement released on Wednesday.

Matthew Kuhnemann bowling in Sri Lanka.Credit: Getty

Kuhnemann, whom senior spinner Nathan Lyon said was the bowler of the Sri Lankan series, must undergo an independent assessment of his action by an ICC-appointed human movement specialist within 14 days. This can take place at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, though the ICC guidelines prefer that test to be conducted overseas.

Players and team officials were surprised to learn Kuhnemann has been cited, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter, which has marred what had been a dream series for the left-armer.

Stamping himself as a subcontinental specialist, Kuhnemann topped the wicket-taker’s list with 16 at an average of 17.18 in a series dominated by spin.

Concerns over Kuhnemann’s action were not raised until after the second and final Test of the series. Umpires Joel Wilson and Adrian Holdstock officiated in the second, while Holdstock was partnered by New Zealand’s Chris Gaffeney in the first.

Wilson adjudicated in Kuhnemann’s second appearance in the baggy green two years ago in Indore without raising any concerns over his action.

“The Australian team was notified of the match officials’ referral following the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle and will support Matt through the process of clearing this matter,” CA said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Matt has played 124 professional matches since his debut in 2017, including five Test matches and four one-day internationals. He has played 55 Big Bash League games since 2018. This is the first time in those eight years of professional cricket that his action been questioned.

“Cricket Australia will liaise closely with the ICC and independent experts in line with ICC regulations. No further comment will be made by Cricket Australia or Matthew until the matter is resolved.”

The ICC belatedly released a statement on Wednesday, well after the 24-hour timeframe stated in its own regulations.

“Australia’s left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has been reported with a suspect bowling action during the second match of their ICC World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka in Galle,” the ICC said.

“The match officials’ report cited concerns about the legality of the 28-year-old’s bowling action.

“Kuhnemann will undergo an independent assessment of his bowling action at an ICC-accredited testing facility to determine the legality of his bowling action.”

While Kuhnemann cannot resume bowling at international level until his action is cleared by the ICC, he can continue playing for Tasmania. Kuhnemann will have his right thumb assessed by doctors, and is a chance to line up next week in the Sheffield Shield against South Australia.

A bowler is deemed to have an illegal action if their elbow extension exceeds 15 degrees, measured from the point when the arm reaches the horizontal until the ball is released.

India spin great Ravichandran Ashwin said two years ago that Kuhnemann’s wrist-work gave the perception his action was illegal.

“An interesting feature of his action is his loading,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel during Kuhnemann’s debut Test series in 2023.

“For Kuhnemann, his wrist breaks during his loading. So sometimes it will look like there is an elbow extension. There is nothing like that in his action. But there is wrist involvement, for sure.

“Because of this wrist involvement, the ball will come down faster.

“Since there is extra involvement of his wrists, the disadvantage is that since the wrist is coming down, and since there is not enough wrist and finger behind the ball, sometimes the ball comes down slowly.

“And if the wicket is slow, you can adjust and play him easily.

“I am saying this because I have also done this wrist-breaking in my career. However, he is getting that drop.

“He is a left-arm spinner on his first tour. He bowled really well in Delhi and Indore.

“Of course, the wicket in Ahmedabad was a bit tough to bowl. Even on that hard surface, he bowled really well.”

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