Left-arm off-spinner Matt Kuhnemann was a surprised fellow after he was asked to link up with the Australian team in Delhi for the second Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India. The hosts won the first match in Nagpur by an innings and 132 runs to go 1-0 up.
He has been called up after leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson flew back home for the birth of his first child and Australia coach Andrew McDonald said that Kuhnemann was in the mix to play the second Test against India.
"He's a live chance to play in the next Test match. If we play three spinners then we clearly want back-up here and available in the squad if that's the way we want to go. That's why we've got four spinners in the squad,” McDonald told reporters on Sunday.
With left-arm spinner Ashton Agar also not picked in Nagpur, Kuhnemann is en route to Delhi and could play alongside Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy if another turning pitch is presented.
The 26-year-old said that he was excited to join the Australian team and had observed opponent spinner Ravindra Jadeja demolishing the Kangaroos with a fifer in first innings. Kuhnemann, a surprise limited-overs debutant for Australia on their tour of Sri Lanka last winter, claimed 2-55 off 21 overs and 1-67 off 23 overs at the MCG.
"I got a phone call yesterday morning when we were walking out for the warm-up, to my surprise. I was pretty shocked and I was probably a little bit nowhere in the first session yesterday. But it was a pretty amazing feeling and it's pretty cool to tell the boys as well at the warm-ups.
I’ve watched every day (of the first Test), I've just been such a fan of these series, they're so good to watch. Todd Murphy was exceptional, and I watched how Jadeja bowled. I'm just really excited to be to get over there and be with the boys," Kuhnemann said.
The visitors are also hoping that Cameron Green, who is recovering well from his finger injury, is available to play as well, so that they can fit in three spinners in their XI for Delhi Test. Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc is also in line for a return after missing the first Test due to his finger injury.
He has bowled in nets without a splint for the first and is on track to also be available for selection.
The Delhi Test begins on February 17 onwards.
Australia squad:
Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
(Cricket.com.au inputs)
