Zampa dissects Australia's white-ball plans ahead of CWC27
Australia’s leg-spinner says the upcoming series against England is a chance to trying out combinations before the defence of their 50-over crown.
Adam Zampa has made it clear that the three ODIs against England, beginning in Perth on 13 November, matter far more than a routine home series.
Australia’s recent 50-over results haven't been promising, and the leg-spinner believes the next few weeks will shape how the side approaches the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
This year in ODIs, Australia beat Zimbabwe 3-0, but lost to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and South Africa, and Zampa admits the constant changes in personnel have not helped.
“This ODI series against England is important because we have had an up-and-down preparation with one-day cricket with the different squads that we have tried of late and we just haven’t played to the best of our ability,” Zampa told AAP.
The 34-year-old has been picked for all eight white-ball matches against England, covering both the ODI and T20I squads.
He pointed out that international fixtures in the ODI format will then thin out for a while, which raises the stakes on the upcoming series.
“After these eight games there is not a whole heap of white-ball cricket for Australia until later in 2027, so forming combinations, working out our batting order and forming bowling combinations in particular is going to be important,” he said.
“Figuring out how we are going to attack the World Cup is important for the team.”
Australia open their Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 campaign against India on 7 October, with the tournament being hosted across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Zampa has not always found conditions in South Africa easy, so he valued the chance to play there in September.
“I’ve always had a tough time in some of the places in South Africa, so it was nice to get a series there (in September) and work out how I will go about it,” he said.
Zampa was the second-highest wicket-taker at the 2023 edition of the Cricket World Cup in India, finishing with 23 scalps and earning a place in the ICC Team of the Tournament.
The spinner says he takes pride in his World Cup record and expects the same approach this time.
“I have been proud of how I perform in World Cups and make sure that I am purring for those," he said.
“This will be no different. I will work hard physically and mentally to make sure I am up and about," he added.
Australia return to 50-over action against England at home, with the first ODI set to take place on 13 November in Perth.
Series Schedule
1st ODI: 13 November, Perth
2nd ODI: 15 November, Adelaide
3rd ODI: 18 November, Hobart