If you’re looking to play a lot of Test cricket as a leg spinner, I don’t see it happening: Adam Zampa

Adam Zampa.(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Australia will be touring Sri Lanka for a two-Test series to wrap up their league games for the 2023-25 World Test Championship. A few days back, Cricket Australia announced the 16-member squad for the series. Given the nature of tracks in the subcontinent, and more specifically in the spin-friendly Sri Lanka, Australia include three out-and-out spinners in the touring unit.

However, there was still no sign of Adam Zampa. The leg-spinner, who is yet to earn his maiden Test cap, spoke on on his expectations to get picked for the upcoming series in the island nation. 

“I don’t think I ever had really high expectations. When you suss the numbers out between wrist-spin and finger-spin over there, it definitely leans more towards finger-spin. I was still hopeful though. That burning desire to play Test cricket was definitely still there – and if anywhere, I thought Sri Lanka was going to be the best option. There’s so many good spinners coming through. I love watching wrist spin in Test cricket (but) there’s obviously not a lot of it,” shared Zampa during a conversation with Fox Cricket.

Also Read: ‘I just can’t wait’ – Cooper Connolly excited to be called up for Test series against Sri Lanka

Zampa’s words of wisdom for budding leggies 

Continuing further, the 32-year-old shared the additional attributes finger-spinners bringh to the table in comparision to wrist-spinners, especially in the longest format of the game. 

“In that form of the game, when it’s spinning, accuracy is probably the most important thing. And with finger-spin, that’s naturally their strength. But I think the ability to hold up an end when other guys are attacking is also another option they bring to the table as well. I don’t know, I wouldn’t say if you’re a young leg-spinner coming through, you’ll never play Test cricket. But, I think if you are looking to play a lot of Test cricket as a leg-spinner, I don’t see it happening,” concluded Zampa.

Fascinatingly, Mitchell Swepson was the most-recent wrist-spinner to play Test cricket for Australia. The Queenslander appeared in four Tests throughout 2022 – two each against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.