Australia call uncapped spinner Matthew Kuhnemann as replacement for Mitchell Swepson
Kuhnemann can only make his debut if Australia play three spinners, not to forget, his selection will also depend on the nature of the pitch in Delhi.
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Matthew Kuhnemann
Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann earned a Test call-up as Australia’s other legspinner Mitchell Swepson is flying back to Australia for the birth of his first child. He was not featured in the XI for the first Test and debutant Todd Murphy got the opportunity. He will return to India ahead of the third Test.
Australia want to have someone like Ravindra Jadeja who outclassed the visitors in the Nagpur Test. Kuhnemann, 26, is yet to play a Test. He doesn’t have much experience at first-class cricket also, having played just 13 matches, scalping 35 wickets at 34.80. He also finds it hard to get featured in the XI if Swepson is available for Queensland. But Kuhnemann has made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka and played four ODIs so far.
“Got a phone call yesterday morning when walking out for the warm-ups. Was pretty shocked,” Kuhnemann said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo after Queensland’s Sheffield Shield match against Victoria. “I watched every day [of the first Test] just being such a fan. These series are so good to watch. Todd Murphy was exceptional and sort of watched how Jadeja bowled. So just really excited to get over there,” he added. The 22-year-old Todd Murphy was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors as he finished with the figures of 7/124.
Mitchell Starc is available for 2nd Test
Kuhnemann can only make his debut if Australia play three spinners, not to forget, his selection will also depend on the nature of the pitch in Delhi, plus the fitness of pacer Cameron Green, who will bowl with skipper Pat Cummins if available. Green has suffered a finger injury in a Test match against South Africa at the MCG.
But the good news for the Baggy Greens is the availability of their veteran pacer Mitchell Starc who is set to play the second Test in Delhi. Starc has recovered from the finger injury he picked up at the MCG. The headache for Australia is how they will balance their side if they want to have Starc in the XI. Apart from Cummins, their side had the pacer Scott Boland for the first Test, who went wicketless.
The Delhi Test is starting on February 17. Australia lost the first Test by an innings and 132 runs owing to the Indian all-rounders and captain Rohit Sharma‘s brilliance on the turning track.
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Gouri Das
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