Australia’s star leg-spinner Adam Zampa is dreaming to earn the coveted “Baggy Green”, as he has set his sights firmly on winning the maiden Test call up after signing with New South Wales.
The white-ball specialist has recently decided to return to New South Wales, ending his association with South Australia after playing for the stateside for the seven seasons, with an eye on the Test call-up, as he is expected to play more red-ball game after the retirement of Steve O’Keefe.
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The 28-year old, who made his first-class debut for NSW way back in 2012-2013 and played the only season before moving to South Australia, has already played 85 limited-overs internationals and has so far picked 33 T20I and 75 ODI wickets for Australia, but is yet to make to his debut in Test Cricket.
Zampa will join Australia's first-choice spinner, Nathan Lyon, at NSW and is hoping to play more Sheffield Shield matches in his absence since the veteran is expected to be mostly away on Test duty, as well as, to learn as much as possible from him by playing domestic cricket alongside the star.
As per cricket.com.au, Zampa said: “You'd have to be silly not to aim for Test cricket, and also be silly not to recognize that Nathan has that spot, and solidly for the next three or four years minimum.”
He further added, “If you're another spinner in the country your best bet is to try and play with Nathan so if I can form a relationship with him and play some Shield cricket with Nath, that's probably the best way for me to get that Baggy Green.”
The leg spinner further revealed that he’s had several conversations about his role at the NSW with coach Phil Jaques. He added, “I’ve known Jaquesy for a long time, I played with him at Sutherland as well, so I’ve known him for 15 years. We’ve had honest conversations already about where I sit, in Shield cricket particularly. Which is good; I know that I’m not here to play every Shield game, but when I do, to try to take every opportunity and if I can play with Nathan, that’s going to be a massive bonus.”
Zampa will now share the NSW dressing room with top Australian cricketers like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, and David Warner and he is confident of improving his game by playing more red-ball cricket with the new side.
He signed off by saying, “It’s literally just been a lack of opportunity the last few years. I felt three years ago I had one full season of Shield cricket and my game improved a lot. But ever since then I’ve basically played a lot of white-ball cricket for Australia and the opportunity just wasn’t there. I haven’t played much red-ball cricket, to be honest, so I’m looking forward to it.”
(With cricket.com.au Inputs)
