Having been told he was “close” to selection for the Test tour of India dejected spinner Adam Zampa has fired a shot across the bow of selectors, and is unsure if he’ll keep playing red ball cricket.
Zampa, Australia’s leading white-ball spinner, made a late push to be including in the 18-man squad returning to Sheffield Shield cricket for the first time since 2019 last year.
He snared three wickets for NSW at the SCG against Victoria in December and in conversations with selectors and national coach Andrew McDonald was told his style of leg-spin could be “handy” in India.
But the 30-year-old was left “flat” when he wasn’t one of the four spinners named in the squad, including leg-spinning rival Mitch Swepson and uncapped Victorian Todd Murphy, hinting selectors changed their mind on Zampa.
“I was close. I got told from George Bailey and Andrew McDonald that it was one of the toughest (decisions) they had to make for the tour. I’m very disappointed, I would have loved to be on it,” Zampa said on Friday.
“I thought with the way I’ve been going in international cricket in particular this was going to be my opportunity.
“That was the messaging I got six weeks ago, this could be a very good chance I could be on it. Now I’m not I’m very flat about it.
“I was really excited to be on this tour. I thought I’d give it a crack and the messaging was my style of bowling might have been handy over there.
“But potentially last minute there was a change of mind.”
With no subcontinent tours again until 2025, Zampa didn’t know if he’d keep playing red ball cricket with his Test dream seemingly dashed.
“I don’t know what’s next for me. It’s two and half years until the next subcontinent tour,” he said.
“Sri Lanka in 2025, or even West Indies in 2025, and that’s a long way away, and I have two white ball World Cups to concentrate on before that. I don’t know what is in store for me red ball wise. I’ll get through this Big Bash and reconsider.
“I’m not going to close the door completely. Life is always about balance and I have a family … I have to think about what’s best.
“I’ll have those chats to see what the next little bit look likes for me, what’s best for them and myself as well.”