Leg-spinner Adam Zampa admitted that his exclusion from India’s tour had strengthened his resolve to re-establish himself in Australia’s ODI squad as the premier spinner.
Zampa was replaced by Ashton Agar from the second match in India after being Australia’s frontline spinner since debut. Zampa earned a reprieve when Agar returned home due to a broken finger, but his series tally of 4 wickets at an average of 47 made him uncertain for the ODI series against England.
Getting a nod ahead of Agar in the Gillette ODI series, Zampa believes the pressure to hold on to the spot will help him perform well.
“It was definitely a wake-up call. I’m really keen to get out there and show that I’ve been working on a few things. My variations and things like that, I feel like they’re coming out well. I really want to cement my spot on this team. I feel like I’m on edge a little bit at the moment and I think that’s probably a good thing,” Zampa said.
“I think I perform at my best when there’s guys trailing me, like Ash, who’s bowling really well with the white ball. I think if anything, that’ll really help me,” Zampa stated further.
With five fast bowlers in the 14-man squad, Zampa’s inclusion in the first XI will depend on conditions. Zampa was picked only in three out of eight matches as Travis Head performed the slow bowlers job.
With bowling allrounders Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis set to play in the middle order, the Aussies will be flush with fast-bowling options and Zampa may be preferred as one of four main bowlers.
Accepting the fact that he will play only if the conditions require, the 25-year-old Zampa admitted he can pick wickets on all surfaces.
“I’ve played a lot of Big Bash (games) on pretty flat surfaces, like the MCG and Adelaide Oval when I was at the Strikers. So I do back myself in any conditions. But the feedback is, and I’m used to it now, that if conditions suit I’ll play and if not then I won’t,” Zampa signed off.
Zampa joined uncapped pace duo Andrew Tye and Jhye Richardson as well as Head, Stoinis and Aaron Finch in the MCG nets, with the whole squad expected to train on Friday.
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