'Not once have people really mentioned Kuhnemann': Khawaja

Former Australia opener Usman Khawaja has urged selectors to consider left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann for the decisive final Test against South Africa in Cape Town. With the series now level at 2-1, Australia need to get their team selection right after suffering a heavy defeat in the previous match. Australia left experienced spinner Nathan Lyon out of the Gqeberha Test and picked fast bowler Scott Boland instead. Boland performed well, taking five wickets, but Australia’s decision to play without a frontline spinner backfired as South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs.

Khawaja believes Kuhnemann deserves a chance, especially because South Africa have several right-handed batters. The left-arm spinner has played five Tests and already taken a five-wicket haul. Although he has not played a Test since February 2025, he impressed during Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka, finishing the two-match series with 16 wickets. “We’ve talked about Boland and Lyon (in the second Test), and not once have people really mentioned Kuhnemann. He is a terrific bowler, a Test bowler. He has a Test five-fa, and done really well for Australia when he’s played,” Khawaja told foxsports.com.au. He explained that Kuhnemann could trouble right-handed batters by making the ball spin away from them, much like South African spinner Simon Harmer troubled Australia’s left-handers. “I know Nathan Lyon’s the ‘GOAT’, and there’s nothing against the GOAT! This is purely based on the fact the South Africans have so many right-handers in their team. I think Kuhnemann deserves to be talked about,” Khawaja added.

Australia also face questions about their batting order ahead of the series decider. Selectors must decide whether Nic Maddinson should continue opening, where Marnus Labuschagne should bat and how to fit Cam Green back into the team as he nears a return from injury. Khawaja believes Maddinson could be more effective in the middle order, where he can face spin bowling rather than handle the difficult task of opening the innings. “No discredit to Nic Maddinson. I think Maddinson is terrific. I actually would have put him in the middle order at the start of the series, purely based on the fact the opening is so hard of a gap to fill,” Khawaja concluded.