- Reported following recent tour of Sri Lanka
- Bio-mechanist will determine if his action is legal
- Cricket Australia will support left-arm spinner
Aussie cricket star Matt Kuhnemann has been reported for a suspect bowling action following the recent tour of Sri Lanka.
Kuhnemann, 28, will have to undergo mandatory testing – likely to be at Brisbane’s Centre of Excellence – where a bio-mechanist will be left to determine if the left-arm spinner’s action is legal.
The bio-mechanist will then report their findings to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
It comes after Kuhnemann snared 16 wickets at 17.18 in two Tests, with off-spinner Nathan Lyon labelling his teammate ‘exceptional.’
Kuhnemann also played through the pain, travelling to Sri Lanka just weeks after dislocating and fracturing his thumb for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash.
‘He showed courage to come out here and bowl – I know it’s hurting him, but he’s there,’ Lyon said in Galle.
Aussie cricket star Matt Kuhnemann has been reported for a suspect bowling action following the recent tour of Sri Lanka
Kuhnemann, 28, will have to undergo mandatory testing where a bio-mechanist will determine if the left-arm spinner’s action is legal
It comes after Kuhnemann snared 16 wickets at 17.18 in two Tests, with off-spinner Nathan Lyon labelling his teammate ‘exceptional’ in Galle
‘He’s bowling exceptionally well, I think he’s been our best bowler.’
In the interim, Kuhnemann cannot participate in international cricket sanctioned by the ICC until his bowling action is cleared.
ICC rules state a bowler is permitted 15 degrees of flex with their bowling arm – but anything more is deemed illegal.
Officials were said to be stunned at the Kuhnemann development – and Cricket Australia have pledged to ‘clear the matter’.
‘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,’ a CA spokesperson told News Corp.
‘Matt has played 124 professional matches since his debut in 2017, including five Test matches and four One-Day Internationals.
‘He has [also] 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.’
