Aussie cricket star Nathan Lyon says he was left heartbroken upon learning that his team-mate Matt Kuhnemann would be reqyuired to undergo testing on his bowling action.
But after it was revealed that Kuhnemann had been cleared of an illegal action, Lyon spoke of his pride of his 28-year-old team-mate while revealing that the testing could process could have been improved.
Kuhnemann had been reported by match officials during Australia’s recent successful tour to Sri Lanka and was forced to fly home early.
Last week the ICC confirmed that the Tasmania bowler had no case to answer and that he is eligible to continue bowling in international cricket competitions.
‘Kuhnemann, who bowls left-arm spin, had been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle that ended on 9 February,’ an ICC spokesperson said.
Under the rules, cricketers are not allowed to flex their bowling arm by more than 15 degrees between the horizontal and the ball being released.
Nathan Lyon has spoken of his ‘pride’ for Matt Kuhnemann (pictured) after he was cleared of an illegal bowling action last week
Lyon (right) was pictured alongside Alyssa Healy (left) during a Cricket Australia Schedule Announcement in Sydney this week
Lyon (pictured) had said that the was ‘heartbroken’ for Kuhnemann after learning the 28-year-old was due to undergo testing on his action following the Sri Lanka series
The statement adds: ‘He [Kuhnemann] subsequently underwent an independent bowling assessment at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on 15 February, where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all his deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations.’
Lyon revealed that his team-mate, who has played five Tests for the Baggy Greens, was ‘nervous’ ahead of the testing process.
‘I’m not sure what the actual process was with the match referees and the officials,’ Lyon told reporters.
‘It would’ve been nice if it was kept under wraps and they could’ve gone through the process behind closed doors.
‘I was pretty heartbroken, in a sense, I actually flew home with him and he was pretty gutted when he was talking to me about what he had to do. He was pretty nervous.
‘For him to have his name cleared, I couldn’t be prouder.’
The ICC held the tests at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane and told ABC Sport that they will ‘not be releasing videos or detailed reports’ into the testing session as part of the organisation’s standard policy.
Across both Tests in Galle, Kunehman took 16 Wickets before returning to play for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield.
Kuhnemann had been referred to the match official after he was alleged to have extended his elbow past the allowed 15 degree angle of flex
The Tasmania bowler had taken 16 wickets across both of Australia’s Tests agains tSri Lanka this year
‘I am very grateful for all the support I have received from my family, friends and teammates, and to Cricket Australia who stood by me throughout the process,’ Kuhnemann said following the announcement of the news.
‘It was a disappointing way to finish what was such a successful Test series for Australia. I’ve never doubted my bowling action throughout my career and I’m always looking to improve the art of spin bowling in different conditions.
‘I thought the process itself was quite fair and I appreciated the professional manner in which testing was explained to me and then conducted.
‘I’m looking forward to finishing the season with Tasmania once my thumb has fully healed and then getting into my off-field preparations.’
It means Kuhnemann will be eligible for selection for Australia’s upcoming ICC World Test Championship Final in London against South Africa, which is due to begin on June 11.
The Baggy Greens will then travel to the West Indies where they will play three Tests and five T20 matches, as they ramp up preparations ahead of this summer’s Ashes Series Down Under.
Lyon, meanwhile, has also been out of action since returning from Sri Lanka, notably missing New South Wales’ final Sheffield Shield match of the season against Tasmania.
He is currently recovering from a hip injury that he has battled with over the summer, and admitted that he could be back very soon, adding that he could have played in the Shield final, had NSW qualified for the showpiece.
Lyon (second left) has also been recovering from a hip injury and is being backed to make a comeback ahead of Australia’s World Test Championship in June
Lyon and fellow Australia star Usman Khawaja, though, had raised eyebrows after they were spotted at the Australian Grand Prix earlier this month, instead of turning out for their respective Shield teams.
‘I’d been medically ruled out, to clear all that up,’ he said, speaking on the Grand Prix.
‘The plan was to play the Shield final if NSW were lucky enough to get in there but that wasn’t the case.
‘I’ve been doing a fair amount of rehab, pretty well five days a week. That’s the reason I didn’t play the Shield game.
‘I love playing cricket for NSW and state cricket. Any opportunity, I’ll play. But in saying that, the F1 was pretty good.’
Lyon is understood to have torn tissue off the fascia of his hip. Despite the painful nature of the injury, the spinner says it is now ‘all well and good.’
