Usman Khawaja Advocates for Inclusion of Matthew Kuhnemann in Test Squad Against South Africa

New Delhi, October 25 (Daily Kiran) : Former Australian opener Usman Khawaja has recommended the inclusion of spinner Matthew Kuhnemann in the team ahead of the final Test against South Africa. Speaking to an Australian website, Khawaja emphasized the need for Kuhnemann’s skills, stating, “We’ve talked about Boland and Lyon, but Kuhnemann hasn’t been mentioned. He is an excellent Test bowler who has consistently performed well for Australia.”

Khawaja noted that most South African players are right-handed batsmen, which makes Kuhnemann a valuable asset. “I don’t understand why people aren’t bringing him into the conversation. He is a tremendous bowler who can keep things tight, similar to how Simon Harmer did against our batsmen in the last game,” he added.

The former opener believes that Kuhnemann offers a strategic advantage, particularly when the ball is spinning. “Nathan Lyon is fantastic, and there’s no question about facing him. Given the number of right-handers in the South African team, Kuhnemann should definitely be considered,” Khawaja said.

Kuhnemann last played for Australia in a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in 2025, where he took 16 wickets.

Khawaja also expressed his thoughts on teammate Nic Maddinson, stating, “I don’t want to underestimate Maddinson. I think he’s great. I actually would have placed him in the middle order at the start of the series because filling the opening slot is very challenging.” He noted that Maddinson was sent up the order without facing any spin, despite being capable of handling it well.

The ongoing three-match Test series between Australia and South Africa is currently tied at 1-1, with the decisive Test set to take place in Cape Town on October 27.