Australia's coach Andrew McDonald has admitted he thought Matt Kuhnemann wasn't going to tour Sri Lanka after fracturing his right thumb in the Big Bash.
Kuhnemann was thought to be unlikely to play in the subcontinent but somehow made a miracle recovery just in time.
The left-arm spinner then played a massive role in Australia's first Test win, claiming nine wickets for the match.
After the win, captain Steve Smith described the surgeon as a "magician" while McDonald was unsure how Australia would've planned for the series without the left-armer.
"I'm not sure where we would've ended up, it was a good thing he got the all-clear to come over," he said.
Andrew McDonald didn't expect Matt Kuhnemann to play in Sri Lanka. AP/Cricket Australia
"We went into a bit of a holding pattern around that, obviously on the back of the surgeon's review there was a possibility (of him playing).
"So that all unfolded late and geez, was he a possibility, he went out there and performed, he had no inhibitions leading in around fielding, it was a real surprise for me.
"I don't know how it works really, I thought he was gone.
"But as it progressed and got closer to the Test match, he was pretty much a lock three days out."
With four Tests to his name, Kuhnemann now has 18 wickets at 23.83.
The next Test will start on February 6.
