Aussie spinner poised for stunning Test recall two weeks after nasty thumb injury
Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann is on the verge of a Test recall despite suffering a nasty thumb injury less than a fortnight earlier.
The veteran tweaker has landed in Sri Lanka where he hopes to add to his tally of three matches in the baggy green.
He is on track to play his first since March 2023 when the Aussies take the field in Galle on Wednesday.
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The joy over his selection in the squad turned to despair when the 28-year-old was hit on the thumb while playing for Brisbane in the Big Bash League.
He reportedly suffered a fracture in his right thumb and had to have surgery on the injury, casting doubt over his trip to Sri Lanka.
Matthew Kuhnemann left the field in obvious pain after suffering a thumb injury in the Heat's BBL loss to the Hurricanes. Fox Sports/Nine
He missed the Test squad's training camp in the UAE last week, but was spotted training in Galle on Sunday.
Reports claim he must only get through another session on Monday in order to be picked in the team for Wednesday's series opener.
"Bowling, batting, fielding ... I've done it (training) back in Australia last week, so they'll be fine," he told The Age and Sydney Morning Herald following Sunday's session.
"It's just how it pulls up the next couple of days in this weather, the humidity and hot weather.
"I think because I broke that finger a couple of years ago and didn't get surgery it probably wasn't as stable as it was.
"From what the doctor said, it was a freak accident – it hit the exact place where it had to hit. Now there's a couple of screws in there, it's a lot more stable.
Matt Kuhnemann. Getty
"[The] first thing that went into my head [when it happened] was, 'Oh no this doesn't look good', but I was very fortunate, I had a great surgeon and medical team to do such a quick and effective job, so by the next day I was hopeful."
Kuhnemann's entire Test career to date consists of three matches against India in 2023, where he took nine wickets at 31.11.
It is expected he will be picked to bowl alongside veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon, with a spinner turning the ball each way to take advantage of the pitches.
Stand-in Aussie captain Steve Smith will reveal the team either at his press conference on Tuesday or at the toss before play on Wednesday.
