Australian bowler Matthew Kuhnemann displaying the ball after scalping 5 wickets towards India on the first day of the third Test Match at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Wednesday, March 01, 2023. Also seen is Nathan Lyon (2L) who took 3 wickets.
| Photo Credit: Moorthy R V
Cricketing tales typically cling on slender threads. Journeying to India, Matthew Kuhnemann was not the first-choice left-arm spinner for Australia. That place went to Ashton Agar who was thought of the second spinner in the Australian group behind Nathan Lyon.
How issues modified! The 26-year-old Kuhnemann, with simply over 30 First Class wickets, leapfrogged over Agar in Australia’s apply classes.
The think-tank too felt Kuhnemman’s faster number of left-arm spin was higher suited to those wickets.
Kuhnemann was dwelling a dream inside a dream right here on Wednesday, his first five-for in Tests being an attention-grabbing 5 for 16 off 9 probing overs on day one in all the third Test.
He turned the ball, was correct and used the crease to create the angles. “It feels really good to pick five wickets in a Test against India,” mentioned Kuhnemann after the day’s play.
Importantly, Kuhnemann mentioned he had learnt a lot from watching Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin bowl in the collection. “I watched them closely. In particular, how they use the crease.”
Kuhnemann mentioned senior bowler Lyon was very encouraging and implored him to maintain issues tight.
Kuhnemann mentioned batting on this pitch was difficult. “It is a dry pitch. Some deliveries are keeping low,” he mentioned.
‘Failed as a batting unit’
India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour mentioned, “It is a challenging wicket. We needed more runs. We failed as a batting unit.” He added, “The wicket has slowed down.”
Rathour mentioned, “With the WTC points at stake, there is pressure to win home games. So there is nothing wrong in preparing such wickets and making best use of home conditions to win. But these pitches are also a double-edged sword.”
Asked about India losing opinions, he mentioned: “You cannot always get them right.”
