Matthew Kuhnemann reported for suspect bowling action after his heroics in Sri Lanka

Australian left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has been reported for a suspect bowling action following his stunning performance in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Matthew Kuhnemann was the main architect behind Australia’s Test series 2-0 sweep in Sri Lanka.

The 28-year-old finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Test series with 16 wickets at an average of 17.18. This remarkable bowling show made Kuhnemann the most successful left-arm spinner from Australia in Sri Lanka.

Matthew Kuhnemann reported for suspect bowling action after Australia’s Test series sweep in Sri Lanka

Matthew Kuhnemann achieved this feat after recovering from a dislocated and fractured thumb that he sustained while playing for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL 2024-25 just a few weeks earlier. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has flagged concerns over his bowling action.

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Matthew Kuhnemann will now have to undergo mandatory testing within three weeks to assess whether his action is within the legal limits. Notably, a bowler is allowed a maximum of 15 degrees of flex in their bowling arm; any more than that, this limit is considered illegal.

The mandatory testing will be done at Brisbane’s Centre of Excellence, where a biomechanist will review Kuhnemann’s action and send the results to the International Cricket Council (ICC). With Kuhnemann’s bowling action under suspect, the left-arm spinner is not allowed to bowl in international cricket under ICC regulations until his action is cleared.

Matthew Kuhnemann can only bowl in the Sheffield Shield

However, Kuhnemann will be allowed to play for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield while he awaits the results of his bowling action test. Meanwhile, the Cricket Australia (CA) officials were reportedly shocked by the news, as no concerns about Kuhnemann's bowling action had been raised before.

It is being said that Queensland and Tasmania never complained about the spinner’s actions, and even the Australian cricket team management didn’t suspect such a thing when he played four ODIs and five Tests for the national team. However, Kuhnemann has the full support of CA.

Well, if the advanced technology and video footage of Kuhnemann's bowling in the Galle Test determine that his action is illegal, the Australian spinner will be banned from bowling. He will only be allowed to bowl again once his action is corrected and he clears a follow-up assessment.

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We'll support Matt through the process of clearing this matter: Cricket Australia (CA)

CA stated in an official statement, “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. Matt has played 124 professional matches since his debut in 2017, including five Test matches and four one-day internationals.”

The statement further reads, “He has played 55 Big Bash League games since 2018. This is the first time in those eight years of professional cricket that his action has 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.”

Notably, Australia is all set to play two ODIs against Sri Lanka before heading to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The first ODI is scheduled for February 12, followed by the final game on February 14 on their Sri Lanka tour.