Australia's premier left-arm off-spinner Kuhnemann is now pain-free after wearing a ball on his non-bowling hand playing for the Big Bash League's Brisbane Heat earlier this month.
He reunited with the squad in Sri Lanka at the weekend and completed Sunday afternoon's first full session since arriving on the island for the two-match series.
Steve Smith had a good spell in the nets on arrival in Sri Lanka. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)
Stand-in captain Smith, who suffered a minor elbow injury in the BBL, spent as much time batting in the nets as anyone else and did not appear hampered.
Every team member attended the optional session, with conditions so humid that top-order option Sam Konstas removed his helmet to finish batting in the nets.
Apparently in preparation for the turning conditions, allrounder Beau Webster bowled the right-arm off-spin of earlier in his career rather than the medium pace trotted out on Test debut at the SCG earlier this month.
Kuhnemann is continuing to wear a brace on his right thumb and medical staff will monitor him.
His injury appeared more serious than Smith's, but Kuhnemann feels fit ahead of the first Test that begins on January 29.
"I had a couple of sessions back home and I was obviously cautious batting and fielding and everything but bowling, I haven't had a problem whatsoever," Kuhnemann said prior to the first training session.
"I did this same thumb a couple of years ago and it was real painful but this one has been fine from the get-go."
As he awaited surgery, Kuhnemann said he was unsure whether he would have the chance to add to his three Test caps in Sri Lanka.
The 28-year-old needed to wait patiently for a debut when Australia toured India in 2023, and the lack of subcontinent visits since had robbed him of further chances.
"Definitely there were times when I was disappointed. It's not great timing," Kuhnemann said when asked whether he feared for his ability to tour.
"There was a couple of hours.
"But I believe everything happens for a reason and you sort of move on. Obviously you do everything you can because these tours don't come around very often as a spinner."
Kuhnemann could not attend the squad's preparatory camp at the ICC Academy in Dubai but managed a hit-out with a Cricket Australia XI against England Lions at Allan Border Field last week.
"The boys said I didn't miss out on too much and what I was bowling on back in Brisbane was an eight-day old wicket so it worked out pretty good," Kuhnemann said.
"If it was the off-season then maybe it would be a blow to miss Dubai but we're in the middle of summer and the workloads and confidence are high. Everything is all good."
