ICC Clears Australia’s Matt Kuhnemann for Bowling After Action Review

Australia's left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann has been granted permission to bowl in international cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Concerns were raised regarding his bowling action following his standout performance in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, where he played a crucial role in Australia's 2-0 series win, taking 16 wickets.

Kuhnemann, who has been playing professional cricket since 2017 and has never faced concerns about his action before, underwent a bowling assessment in Brisbane. The evaluation took place on February 15 at the National Cricket Centre, and he was granted approval for the legality of his bowling action on Wednesday.

An ICC statement confirmed, "The assessment showed that the elbow extension for each of his deliveries is within the 15-degree limit permitted under the ICC's illegal bowling regulations."

Bowling Test Details and Approval

During the assessment, Kuhnemann was asked to bowl for over an hour, replicating the speed and spin of his deliveries from the second Test against Sri Lanka. His action was analyzed using high-speed cameras and 3D motion analysis technology.

Support from Cricket Australia and Steve Smith

Cricket Australia's Executive General Manager, Ben Oliver, expressed his relief, saying, "We are happy for Matt that this issue is now resolved. It was a challenging time for him, but he handled the situation excellently."

Australia's captain, Steven Smith, who has supported Kuhnemann throughout the process, added, "This report was surprising for us, as he has been playing professional cricket for eight years without any previous concerns. We are all behind him and confident that he will pass the test."

Kuhnemann’s Return to Cricket

Having been sidelined due to injury since the Big Bash League, it is still uncertain when Kuhnemann will return to the field. His participation in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania, starting March 6, will depend on his fitness. However, he is expected to be in contention for Australia's Test squad for their tour of the West Indies in June-July.

Kuhnemann, who has played just five Test matches and taken 25 wickets at an average of 22.20, is now fully prepared to advance his career in international cricket.