“I said, ‘Have you got any tips for me after the [second] Test?’ He said ‘Yes, at the end of the series’,” Kuhnemann had said in Indore.
The left-armer was still buzzing on Tuesday about playing three Tests on his debut tour, after only flying over to join the squad following Australia’s series-opening defeat in Nagpur.
Adding to it all, Kuhnemann was nicknamed “Jaddu” by his Sheffield Shield team-mates after running through South Australia in a game for Queensland in 2021.
“He gave me some good tips for the next time we’re in the subcontinent, and some tips to go back home with as well. He was really nice, and just said any time to reach out and even sent me a message on Instagram, so that was pretty cool.”
Interacting with some of the game’s greats during a whirlwind month has only fuelled the 26-year-old’s hunger and desire to keep improving at international level.
Kuhnemann, Lyon and Murphy received the ultimate praise from Indian coach Rahul Dravid after the series, calling the Aussie trio the best spin attack the hosts had faced in their own conditions for more than a decade. All three had their turn taking bags of wickets across the four Tests, claiming 45 scalps between them, headlined by Lyon’s 22.
“The way that it happened, I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Kuhnemann said. “Nathan Lyon took myself and Todd under his wing from the get go, he was pretty much like a big brother to us over here.
“I think we’re very lucky to have Gaz and his experience to learn off. I’m ready to get back in the nets, get back in there after speaking to Jadeja. I’m really keen to tinker with a couple of things, trying to just keep improving my skills and play as much cricket as I can.”
If all of that wasn’t enough, Kuhnemann put his hand up to open as a nightwatcher during Australia’s second innings in Ahmedabad after Usman Khawaja was troubled by a leg injury. Kuhnemann became the first Australian to open and bat at No. 11 in the same Test match since 1929.
Visit Today : 121
Visit Yesterday : 3324