Khawaja urges Australia to consider Kuhnemann for Cape Town decider

Khawaja says Kuhnemann should be part of Australia’s selection debate

Usman Khawaja has urged Australia’s selectors to consider Matt Kuhnemann for the series-deciding Test against South Africa in Cape Town, arguing the left-arm spinner’s record and the opposition’s right-handed batters make him a genuine option.

Australia trail 2-1 after losing the previous Test in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs. Nathan Lyon was left out and Scott Boland was selected instead; Boland took five wickets, but Australia’s decision to field without a frontline spinner proved costly.

“We’ve talked about Boland and Lyon (in the second Test), and not once have people really mentioned Kuhnemann,” Khawaja told Fox Sports. “He is a terrific bowler, a Test bowler. He has a Test five-fa, and done really well for Australia when he’s played.”

Kuhnemann has played five Tests and claimed a five-wicket haul. Although he has not featured in a Test since February 2025, he took 16 wickets across Australia’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka. Khawaja said Kuhnemann’s left-arm angle could trouble South Africa’s right-handers, in a way comparable to the problems Simon Harmer created for 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 said.

Batting order also under review

Australia must also settle its batting combination, including whether Nic Maddinson should remain an opener, where Marnus Labuschagne should bat and how to bring Cam Green back as he approaches a return from injury.

Khawaja suggested Maddinson could be better used in the middle order, where he would face spin rather than take on the challenge of opening. “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,” he said.