Khawaja backs Kuhnemann for Cape Town decider, adds to Australia's selection headache
Synopsis
Usman Khawaja has done what almost no one else has — named Matt Kuhnemann as a serious option for Australia's Cape Town decider. With the series locked at 1-1 after a spinnerless Gqeberha disaster, Khawaja's case is simple and pointed: South Africa's right-handed lineup is tailor-made for a left-arm orthodox threat, and Kuhnemann, a man with 16 wickets in his last Test series, is being ignored without good reason.
Key Takeaways
Usman Khawaja has publicly backed Matt Kuhnemann as a selection option for Australia's third and final Test against South Africa in Cape Town .
The series is currently level at 1-1 after South Africa won the Gqeberha Test by an innings and 31 runs .
Kuhnemann has played just five Tests since 2023 but took 16 wickets in his last series in Galle against Sri Lanka in February 2025 .
Khawaja argues Kuhnemann's left-arm spin presents the same tactical advantage against right-handers that Simon Harmer exploited for South Africa against Australia's left-handed lineup.
Australia face additional selection calls over Nic Maddinson 's opening role, Marnus Labuschagne 's position, and a potential return for Cam Green .
Former Australian opener Usman Khawaja has thrown left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann into Australia's selection conversation ahead of the series-deciding third Test against South Africa in Cape Town, arguing the overlooked tweaker is a 'terrific' option against a predominantly right-handed Proteas batting lineup. The intervention comes as Australia regroup after a humiliating innings-and-31-run defeat in Gqeberha that levelled the series at 1-1.
The Kuhnemann Case
Khawaja made his argument pointed: in the post-mortem of the Gqeberha collapse, the name Matt Kuhnemann had gone conspicuously unmentioned. '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.
The left-armer has played just five Tests for Australia since his red-ball debut in 2023, but made an early impression by claiming a five-wicket haul in only his second Test appearance. His last international outing was the two-match series in Galle against Sri Lanka in February 2025, where he finished with an impressive 16 wickets across the two matches.
The Spin Logic: Why Right-Handers Change the Equation
Khawaja drew a direct parallel with South Africa's own selection thinking in the series opener in Durban, where the Proteas deployed both Simon Harmer and left-arm veteran Keshav Maharaj in tandem. 'I think the reason they picked Harmer last game was because we have so many left-handed batsmen. When the ball's spinning away, it's always slightly harder to score,' Khawaja explained.
'I think Kuhnemann presents the same option, and when it's spinning too, he is a very, very good bowler. 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,' he added. Notably, a two-spinner combination of Lyon and Kuhnemann is considered improbable, though South Africa's own precedent in the first Test shows it is not unprecedented at this level.
The Gqeberha Collapse and What Went Wrong
Australia's decision to drop frontline spinner Nathan Lyon and replace him with Scott Boland for the second Test drew widespread criticism. While Boland did claim his third Test five-wicket haul and contributed usefully as a nightwatchman in the second innings following a follow-on, the absence of a specialist spinner was ultimately costly. South Africa's Simon Harmer exploited the left-hander-heavy Australian lineup effectively, demonstrating precisely the kind of match-winning left-arm-over threat that Khawaja now advocates Australia deploy in return.
Selection Dilemmas Beyond the Spin Slot
The spin question is just one of several decisions facing the Australian management before Tuesday's decider. Nic Maddinson's place at the top of the order is under scrutiny, as is Marnus Labuschagne's role at No. 3. The middle order also faces potential reshaping, with Cam Green reportedly nearing a return from injury. Maddinson, according to Khawaja, was miscast as an opener from the outset.
'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. Nic got thrown up there and he didn't even get to face a spinner. He smacks spin too. He actually clobbers them for six, so kind of disappointed I didn't see that the first two games,' Khawaja said. With the series level at 1-1 and everything to play for in Cape Town, Australia's selectors face a high-stakes set of calls that will define the tour's outcome.
Point of View
Almost instinctively, to the Lyon-or-no-spinner binary. The Gqeberha defeat was not just about picking Boland over Lyon — it was about Australia ignoring the tactical mirror that South Africa held up to them. The Proteas used a left-arm spinner to exploit a left-heavy batting order; Australia have a right-heavy opponent and a ready-made left-arm option they have barely discussed. Whether the selectors act on that logic or retreat to the comfort of the established XI will say a great deal about how seriously they are taking this decider. Maddinson's fate at the top of the order also matters: forcing him to open rather than bat in the middle order, where his power-hitting against spin would be most valuable, looks like a structural error that cost Australia runs in both Tests.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Usman Khawaja suggesting Matt Kuhnemann for the Cape Town Test?
Khawaja argues that Kuhnemann's left-arm orthodox spin is the ideal weapon against South Africa's predominantly right-handed batting lineup, mirroring the tactical logic South Africa used when picking Simon Harmer against Australia's left-heavy order. He described Kuhnemann as a 'terrific' Test bowler who has been unfairly left out of the selection conversation.
What is Matt Kuhnemann's Test record for Australia?
Kuhnemann has played five Tests for Australia since his debut in 2023, claiming a five-wicket haul in just his second game. His most recent series was in Galle against Sri Lanka in February 2025, where he took 16 wickets across two matches.
Why did Australia lose the second Test in Gqeberha?
Australia were beaten by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha after selecting Scott Boland ahead of frontline spinner Nathan Lyon, leaving them without a specialist spinner. Despite Boland's five-wicket haul, the absence of a quality spinner was widely seen as a decisive tactical error.
What other selection issues does Australia face for the Cape Town decider?
Beyond the spinner debate, Australia must decide on Nic Maddinson's place at the top of the order, Marnus Labuschagne's role at No. 3, and the middle-order composition — particularly with Cam Green reportedly nearing a return from injury. Khawaja has suggested Maddinson would be better deployed in the middle order.
What is the current series score between Australia and South Africa?
The series is level at 1-1 heading into the third and final Test in Cape Town. Australia won the first Test in Durban, before South Africa levelled with a dominant innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha.
