ZAMPA’S REEF ENCOUNTER WITH TROPHY

SPINNER Adam Zampa is well aware of the vital role he will play in Australia’s ICC T20 World Cup title defence later this year, but he has the perfect “game-changer” to keep himself grounded before what could be a historic tournament.

Zampa and his wife Hattie Palmer welcomed baby Eugene into the world just five weeks ago, and while they have faced every new parents’ challenges together the 30-year-old tweaker is relishing his new-found role.

“It’s great, yeah,” said Zampa, whose face instantly brightened at the mention of his baby boy. “It’s a new challenge, but I’m actually finding it to be the best distraction in the world from everything else going on.

“There’s going to be a lot of work coming up, a lot of cricket, but I’m pretty excited about having my little fella to distract me from it.

“That’s what all the boys say, you can have a shit day at work, go home and see your baby. It’s a game-changer.”

Zampa missed Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka for Eugene’s arrival but will return for the upcoming one-dayers and T20 World Cup.

The countdown to the T20 World Cup is now into double digits, and Zampa marked the milestone by taking the coveted silverware out to the Great Barrier Reef with two Cairns personalities, presenter Erin Holland and Paralympian Grant “Scooter” Patterson.

Zampa was also joined by a number of junior Far North cricketers on the trip to the new Magic Reef Pontoon, where he took the silverware – protected in a large perspex box – underwater in arguably the most exciting and picturesque leg of the ICC T20 World Cup trophy tour.

“It was a great day,” Zampa said.

“Pretty full-on, but it was a cool experience to go to the reef. Got the red carpet pulled out for us, that’s for sure.”

Australia won that piece of coveted silverware for the first time in November last year, and will not have held it for 12 months when it starts its title defence against New Zealand at the SCG on October 22.