Australian coach Andrew McDonald had lost faith in Matt Kuhnemann's availability to tour Sri Lanka and had no idea who would replace him in the squad.
Then Kuhnemann recovered from thumb surgery in two weeks to take the best match figures of any bowler in his side's triumphant first Test in Galle.
McDonald and the Australian selectors held their breath when the country's premier left-arm offspinner wore a ball on his right hand playing Big Bash League in mid-January.
