Virat Kohli’s paltry punishment for shoulder-charging Sam Konstas has been thrust back into the spotlight in light of Matt Kuhnemann being reported for ‘chucking’, with the ICC labelled ‘hypocrites’. And Tim Paine has suggested Kuhnemann’s action is not too dissimilar to that of Indian star Jasprit Bumrah, but the Aussie is an “easy target”.

Kuhnemann has been barred from playing ICC-sanctioned events until he can prove his action is legal, and the Aussie spinner will have to undergo biomechanical testing in the next few weeks. ICC rules state bowlers can only have 15 degrees of bend in their arm when delivering the ball, but umpires in the two Tests against Sri Lanka felt Kuhnemann may have been contravening that law.

Sri Lankan players reportedly expressed some concerns as Kuhnemann took 16 wickets across the two Tests. And there’s fears the Aussie spinner will be branded as a “cheat” even if he is cleared.

Leading cricket writer Ben Horne has now reignited the controversy around Kohli’s weak punishment for a physical clash with Konstas in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, saying it shows how ‘hypocritical’ the ICC is. Kohli was hit with a measly fine and escaped being banned after deliberately ramming into his 19-year-old opponent in an attempt to unsettle him.

“Virat Kohli was hit with one of the softest sanctions of all time, yet match officials in Sri Lanka were happy to make an example out of a five-Test orthodox spinner over a marginal bowling action,” Horne wrote for the Daily Telegraph over the weekend. “They are completely different situations that don’t even belong in the same conversation other than the all too familiar running theme that the game’s governing body is sport’s biggest toothless tiger…until an easy target (Kuhnemann) presents itself.”

Tim Paine lashes out over Matt Kuhnemann controversy

Discussing the situation on SEN radio, former Aussie Test captain Paine also questioned why Kuhnemann was being targeted, saying he believes his action is quite similar to that of Bumrah. The Indian superstar has always escaped scrutiny from the ICC because it’s believed his arm ‘hyperextends’ rather than bends.

“I think there’s a bit of flexion, not dissimilar to a Jasprit Bumrah,” Paine said. “I think he’d be flat as a tack I’d imagine. In cricket, being accused of throwing is not a great mark to have against your name. You’re being accused in a way, of cheating.

“I imagine in such a public forum, that would be very hard for him to deal with that. He’s probably walked off that day on top of the world, and by the time he’s back in the hotel room he’s at absolute rock bottom because he’s fighting, if you like, to save his career.”

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Matt Kuhnemann targeted in ‘token’ move from officials

Paine suggested Kuhnemann is an easy target and the reporting of his action is simply a “token” move. “I just don’t get it,” he added. “Go back through the history of cricket and we’ve had guys who have played hundreds of Test matches combined who have (much worse actions) than Matthew Kuhnemann. I feel like it’s a bit of a token ‘we’ll look like we’re policing this, even though we have never before,’ and Kuhnemann has been the unlucky one.”

Speaking last week, Australian captain Steve Smith said he believes Kuhnemann will be cleared and back playing in no time. But Queensland coach and former South Africa spinner Johan Botha predicted a stigma of sorts will stick with Kuhnemann for some time.