Settled Zampa up for Proteas
LEG-SPINNER Adam Zampa is on top of the world and admits his confidence is growing going into Australia’s oneday series in South Africa.
The 24-year-old opened his tour with 3-37 in a comfortable nine-wicket win over Ireland on Tuesday.
The haul means since his debut against New Zealand in February, Zampa has claimed 25 scalps at an impressive average of 22.
It is a tally no other bowler has bettered in 2016.
“I’m a lot more confident to bowl my variations and I know my role a lot better now,” he said before today’s series opener against the Proteas at Centurion.
“I feel a little bit more secure in the team than what you do when you’re playing in your first and second games.
“I’m a little bit more confident than what I was in February.”
Zampa’s confidence will be welcomed by captain Steve Smith, who has been denied three of his key strike weapons for the five-match campaign.
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner have all been left at home and, while the hosts have lost captain A.B. de Villiers to an elbow injury, they still boast a powerful batting line-up including Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock.
South Australia’s Dan Worrall made his debut against the Irish, while uncapped Joe Mennie and Chris Tremain are the others pushing to fill the void left by Starc, Hazlewood and absence.
Zampa is confident he can take on a more important role in the line-up if called on.
“The variations are coming out nicely,” he said.
“That’s going to be important over here. I think you might actually see some slower wickets than what we’re used to over here as well.
“I’m going to have to play a pretty important role.
“The good thing lately is we’ve had early wickets to play with all the time. That’s made my role a lot easier as well.
“If the roles are reversed and they’re one or two down I’m expecting them to come out pretty hard, especially with the atmosphere here and the small grounds.
“It’s going to be a new challenge.” Faulkner’s
“I’m a lot more confident to bowl my variations and I know my role a lot better now.” ADAM ZAMPA