Tasmania off spinner Jarrod Freeman has stepped away from cricket indefinitely to focus on his mental health.
Freeman, 23, has been a consistent player in Tasmania's Sheffield Shield team over the past two seasons, claiming 40 wickets at an average of 46.00. He was instrumental in their journey to the final in the 2023-24 campaign.
In addition to his bowling achievements, Freeman played a crucial role with the bat last October, helping Tasmania chase down 432 runs against Queensland in a memorable victory.
Cricket Tasmania expressed its support for Freeman during his leave, pinpointing the importance of mental health. The organisation released a statement acknowledging the significance of mental health and expressing hope for his return to cricket in the future. They also reiterated their commitment to providing mental health training and education to all athletes, recognising the challenges faced by professional sportspeople.
To strengthen their spin department during the off-season, Tasmania has signed Test left-armer Matt Kuhnemann from Queensland and Australia Under-19 off spinner Raf MacMillan on a rookie contract.
Kuhnemann, who was recently on standby for Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, has moved to Tasmania to pursue more opportunities in red-ball cricket. He has only played four first-class matches since the Test series against India early last year, three for Durham and one for Australia A.
Last season, leg spinner Mitchell Swepson was Queensland’s primary spin option in the Sheffield Shield. However, Kuhnemann and Swepson played together effectively for Brisbane Heat’s BBL title-winning side, and Kuhnemann will continue with Heat for the 2024-25 season.