Turn on: Zampa hoping to be a World Cup power player

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This was published 4 years ago

Turn on: Zampa hoping to be a World Cup power player

By Jon Pierik

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa has declared he is ready to be a middle-overs marvel and enact a blueprint Australia hopes will lead to a sixth World Cup and a $5 million pay day.

As they seek to defend their title, the Australians understand how important spin – and wickets – will be through the middle power play on the small England grounds.

Zampa, who has revived his one-day international career over the past 12 months, will be integral to this, and has been given a licence by skipper Aaron Finch to chase wickets, even if that means he leaks more runs than hoped in what shapes as a high-scoring tournament.

Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa is shaping as a potent weapon for the World Cup in England.

Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa is shaping as a potent weapon for the World Cup in England.Credit: AP

"Definitely. That is something we have spoken about, and Finchy is big on – trying to take wickets. If you are bowling to the middle and lower order in the last 10 overs it makes it so much easier for the fast bowlers at the 'death'," Zampa said.

"If you are bowling to in-batsmen like Virat (Kohli) or Jos Buttler for example, if they are in it makes it a lot harder, so wickets in the middle is so important in one-day cricket."

Under coach Justin Langer, the Australians have worked feverishly to have more potency with the ball through the middle overs, while also handling spin better with the bat, for slow bowling will be a crucial armory for many of the 10 competing nations.

Australia's game plan, revised over Christmas, is simple and, certainly with the bat, runs contrary to the frenetic style of tournament favourites England.

With bat in hand, it means a more risk-free approach, limiting the number of dot balls and keeping the scoreboard ticking over through the middle overs without losing too many wickets, ensuring there is a platform for power hitters such as Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell to finish strongly.

In terms of bowling, it means taking wickets, hoping that all top-order batsmen are dismissed at least by the 40th over.

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The Australians worked on all things spin at training on Sunday, having enjoyed growing confidence in recent series wins over India and Pakistan, and will look to taper this to English conditions in their first warm-up game, against the Windies in Southampton on Wednesday.

Adam Zampa (left) celebrates the wicket of India's Rohit Sharma in the final one-day international in Delhi this summer.

Adam Zampa (left) celebrates the wicket of India's Rohit Sharma in the final one-day international in Delhi this summer.Credit: AP

"The last three or four years, you have probably seen the game change a bit. The spinners have come into the game a lot more," Zampa said.

"That was something we struggled with, playing against spin. Probably 18 months ago, 12 months ago, it's something that we rectified really well in India and in Dubai against Pakistan."

Zampa, 27, was overlooked for last year's humbling ODI series in England and then was wicketless in two matches at home against South Africa and one against India. However, he rubber-stamped his spot as the frontline spinner by handling the pressure and claiming 11 wickets at 25.81 in five matches in India, and seven wickets at 37.28 against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

He and off-spinner Nathan Lyon have formed a strong bond and insist they can trouble opponents as spin twins should Australia opt for that if the pitches are dry.

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"We play two different roles, he (Lyon) is so accurate, a beautiful off-spinner, bowls to his field really well and bowls really tight, that means I can attack from the other end," Zampa said.

Always one to seek improvement, he has analysed the career of England's Adil Rashid, who, like him, had his selection issues before becoming a mainstay of the side as an attacking leggie.

Zampa had a bowl with Rashid Khan, the star Afghanistan leggie, after the Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers had played their Big Bash League match in Moe last summer. Zampa was fascinated with Rashid's quick run-up and the way he held the ball.

"He is just a totally different bowler. The reason that he runs in so fast is because he has got really thick fingers and holds the ball right at the end. For example, I bowl it right in my palm, he bowls it right at the end," Zampa said.

While unable to replicate that style, Zampa will pass on what he learnt to his teammates ahead of the World Cup opener against Afghanistan on Saturday week, where the first steps towards success – and record prizemoney – will be taken.

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