Adam Zampa Sets Sights on Australian Test Debut by 2025
Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa has stated his case for Test selection and revealed why he “keeps receipts” from critical past players.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa insists he is still a “realistic” chance of playing Test cricket when Australia tours Sri Lanka early next year.
Zampa has not played a first-class match for 18 months, but the star white-ball bowler believes he could be a valuable contributor in the February tour and in future series on spin-friendly wickets.
The 32-year-old said his unimpressive Sheffield Shield record would draw criticism if he was selected, but he told the Final Word podcast he had strong confidence his skills could be transferred to the longer format.
Zampa has 111 wickets in 40 first-class matches at an average of 46.98, but claimed six wickets at 24.50 for New South Wales in two rare Shield appearances in 2022-23.
“I think realistically (I’m) still a chance to play Test cricket. I feel OK about it,” Zampa said.
“If I was playing a lot of Shield cricket right now, with the way I’m bowling and the bowler that I am, I think I’d be fine, I think I’d be doing really well, and the few games that I have played in the last couple of years have been suggestive of that.
“Even if I do get picked in the upcoming subcontinent tours, people are always going to say, ‘well his record, he’s averaging 46 with the ball, it’s not good enough’ … but if I do get picked, I feel like with the way I’m bowling, it’ll be fun.”
Zampa, who has been performing strongly in England’s The Hundred competition for the Oval Invincibles, said he was “really comfortable” with the balance he had struck between his family life and cricket.
The leg-spinner has faced a gruelling schedule this winter with his comeback IPL tournament bleeding into Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign in the West Indies before his English commitments.
