Zampa feeling at risk

Legspinner fears for spot

HE’S played more white-ball cricket for Australia over the past few years than just about anyone, but don’t think for a second that Adam Zampa is getting comfortable.

For all the positives from Australia’s T20 series win in South Africa, it’s hard to surpass the performance of dual spin threats Zampa, 27, and Ashton Agar, 26.

The pair combined to take 13 wickets across three games and had the Proteas batsmen battling in the middle overs.

A low-key leg spinner more notable for his consistency than for ripping through oppositions, Zampa has quietly made himself almost indispensable.

Since his ODI debut against New Zealand in February 2016, only Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell have played more white-ball cricket for Australia.

But far from feeling secure, Zampa says he hasn’t felt relaxed about his spot since first playing professional cricket.

“Obviously, you have good games and you have good series and you reflect on that, but there’s definitely no comfort in it at all,” he said.

“My mind is already thinking about the ODI series (against South Africa).

“We had two really convincing wins in this series but personally, as someone who hasn’t felt comfortable for his whole career, I’ve already got my mind on the next series.”

His willingness to throw himself around in the field and stand up in high-pressure moments hasn’t gone unnoticed, even outside of cricket.

Having starred in the Big Bash either side of an India ODI tour in which he dismissed Virat Kohli for a fifth time, Zampa was lauded on social media for his competitiveness by rugby league coaching great Phil Gould.

“I don’t see myself as the most skilful leg spinner in the world,” Zampa said.

“You think of guys like Rashid Khan and Imran Tahir and people like that who are really hard to pick … I’ve always had to have the edge, something that stands me apart from the really skilful guy.”

Zampa’s biggest challenge in the upcoming three-match ODI series, which starts in Paarl tonight, may be finding somewhere to eat.

He and fellow vegan Kane Richardson planned to stock up on goods before the squad departed Cape Town for several smaller towns.

“There are at least 10 places you can go to here (Cape Town that are fully vegan,” Zampa said, “but there’s some places where you have to plan ahead.”