INDIA TOUR OF AUSTRALIA, 2025
Matthew Kuhnemann with an attempted run-out against India © Getty
Australia’s left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann said his time around the white-ball squad over the past six months helped him hold his nerve while bowling the closing overs in Perth, where he returned 2 for 26 in a rain-shortened ODI against India.
“At one stage I didn’t think I was going to bowl when we kept coming on and off,” Kuhnemann said after Australia’s crushing win. “Bowling at the end there I knew it was going to be a tough ask, but I’ve been around this group now for a little while, and especially the T20 side of things.”
The 28-year-old was handed the ball late in the innings, after Australia’s impressive seamers were done with their quota of overs, responded with 20 consecutive deliveries without conceding a boundary. He credited his extended stint with Australia’s limited-overs setup for helping him understand the demands of bowling at the death against a deep Indian batting line-up.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in the last six months on that role in T20 bowling and it came handy today,” he said.
Kuhnemann said he has leaned on senior spinner Adam Zampa and assistant coach Daniel Vettori to refine his skills and mindset for the shortest formats. “I’ve spent a lot of time with ‘Zamps’ in the last three months especially… and working with Vettori… in T20 you’ve got to be able to bowl any over from one to 20,” he said.
Though Zampa remains Australia’s first-choice spinner and is set to return for the second game of the series, Kuhnemann said he’s keeping himself ready for any role that conditions might demand. “I’m always learning off those boys and ‘Zamps’ has been an excellent bowler for this team for a long time now. You never know when conditions might suit two spinners. [I’ve] got to be ready for anything.
“Being able to travel with the red-ball team and running drinks there and just learning my way…I’m always happy to be part of this team and learn and grow as a player.”
© Cricbuzz
