Matthew Kuhnemann says he 'never doubted' bowling action after being cleared by ICC

Australian rising spin bowler Matt Kuhnemann has stated that he never doubted the legality of his bowling action after the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced its clearance. After two and a half weeks of anxiety, Kuhnemann's concerns were finally put to rest on Wednesday night when the ICC notified him that he had passed the test on his bowling action. This confirmation allows him to continue his promising career without interruption.

Previously, Kuhnemann was reported for a questionable bowling action after Australia's victory in Sri Lanka, where he was the leading wicket-taker. Kuhnemann admitted that being reported at the peak of his career was disappointing. However, he insisted that there was nothing wrong with his bowling action, having played 135 professional matches since his first appearance for the Cricket Australia XI team in 2017. He remained confident throughout the review process.

In a statement, Kuhnemann said: "It is disappointing to end what was such a successful series for Australia in this manner. I have never doubted my bowling action throughout my career, and I have been working to improve the art of spin bowling in different conditions. I thought the process itself was very fair, and I appreciated the professionalism of the testing and the way it was explained and conducted to me."

Kuhnemann also thanked Cricket Australia officials for their support, who publicly pointed out that his bowling action had never been reported before. Acting captain Steve Smith also expressed surprise that Kuhnemann was submitted to the ICC, as he relied heavily on Kuhnemann in Sri Lanka. Kuhnemann stated, "I am very grateful to my family, friends, and teammates, as well as Cricket Australia for their support throughout this process."

Kuhnemann fractured his right thumb in the Big Bash League last month, but he endured the pain to take 16 wickets in the two Test matches in Galle at an average of 17.18. He said: "I am looking forward to completing the (Sheffield Shield) season with Tasmania once my thumb has fully healed, and then starting my off-season preparations." Kuhnemann could represent Tasmania against his former team, Queensland, as early as next Thursday, provided his non-bowling thumb has healed. Beyond the Sheffield Shield matches this season, Kuhnemann is likely to be part of the Australian squad for the three-Test series in the Caribbean, where the wickets often favor multiple spin bowlers.

Queensland-born Kuhnemann could also be a key member of the Australian team defending the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India in 2027, playing alongside Nathan Lyon. Australian coaches like Kuhnemann for providing a point of difference to Lyon, as a left-arm bowler who spins the ball in the opposite direction. He also achieved his career-best figures of 5-16 during Australia's last visit to India, helping the team win the second Test in Indore.

If the ICC test conducted in Brisbane on February 15 had determined that Kuhnemann's elbow extension exceeded 15 degrees, he would have been banned from bowling until he could prove that he had corrected the issue. This would have presented a significant challenge for Kuhnemann, as he has bowled with his current action throughout his career, and maintaining his effectiveness would have been difficult. Fortunately, the test results cleared him to continue his career without modification.