Matt Kuhnemann spent time in hospital researching Sri Lanka’s underrated left arm spin star Rangana Herath
Sri Lankan portly left-armed tweaker Rangana Herath, took 66 wickets at 22 in 11 Tests against Australia and his highlights have become a textbook for Matt Kuhnemann’s Test series preparation.
When his aching right thumb was being treated in hospital Matt Kuhnemann put his other fingers to work to study the most underrated bowler in Test history.
Left-arm spinner Kuhnemann was sent to hospital after dislocating his finger in a Big Bash game last Thursday but it has not stopped him from flying to Sri Lanka to be in contention for the first Test at Galle on Wednesday after successful surgery.
Rather than dwell over his misfortune Kuhnemann used some of his time in hospital to surf the internet looking for tips on how to bowl in Galle, venue of the two Tests, and all roads led to Rangana Herath.
“I spent a couple of days in hospital and was watching cricket in general then I went on You Tube and the next thing you are watching Rangana Herath and all his wickets in Galle,’’ Kuhnemann said.
“He was a genius over there.’’
The portly left-armed tweaker Herath, who took 66 wickets at 22 in 11 Tests against Australia, had one of the most distinguished careers in Test history without gaining the fanfare he deserved, perhaps because he was trapped in the shadow of record-shattering countryman Muttiah Muralitharan.
With 433 wickets at 28 from 93 Tests, Herath sits 12th on the list of Test cricket’s greatest wicket-takers, one behind Indian great Kapil Dev and two more than New Zealand’s masterful seamer Sir Richard Hadlee.
He played an astonishing 19 Tests in Galle and harvested 102 wickets at 25, numbers which suggests it was a turning venue but not quite the viper’s den it is sometimes portrayed as.
Kuhnemann said there were facets of Herath’s bowling he could learn from if he gets the chance to play in the series.
“One thing I noticed was that he never leaves the stumps. He varies his pace and he is the most accurate bowler ever. He could bowl cross seamers that skid on. He was a great bowler.’’
Australia is set to play two or three spinners in Galle with Kuhnemann, if fit, set to partner Nathan Lyon in both Tests.
Kuhnemann has a specially prepared splint to wear over his damaged thumb and Australia will do batting, bowling and fielding tests on him in Galle before finalising the team.
Ricky Ponting, who will commentate on the series for Channel 7, said Australia should play Kuhnemann if he is “95% fit.’’
“He’s done well when he’s played in the subcontinent,’’ Ponting said.
“Left arm spinners certainly do well against right hand batters, as we’ve seen over there in the past. Herath caused our guys all sorts of issues in a couple of the series over there and Kuhnemann can do the same thing.’’
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