LEG — SPINNER Adam Zampa has revealed criticism from teammate Tim Paine reignited a competitive streak which sparked a crucial spell of bowling in Australia’s T20 victory over India.
Zampa struggled during the one-day international series, coming under heavy punishment in the series opener from Indian dynamo Hardik Panda.
He was dropped after the first match only to be given a reprieve when left-arm tweaker Ashton Agar returned to Australia nursing a broken finger. But despite the recall, Zampa failed to make a major impact in two dead rubbers.
“Tim Paine said from watching from afar in Australia, I didn’t look my usual self. How I usually am in the Big Bash — that competitive side,” Zampa said. “I don’t like hearing that about myself so I was pretty fired up about that.” A provoked Zampa took 2-19 off his four overs as Australia levelled the series at 1-1 in Guwahati.
And it was a combination with Paine, who showed he is one of Australia’s finest glovemen, which removed the dangerous MS Dhoni after a classical legbreak caused a stumping.
Zampa’s second wicket was arguably more impressive, a wrong’un which confused Kedar Jadhav and clattered into his stumps “I’ve never found myself as the most skilful bowler. But I’d like to think I come back well from setbacks,” Zampa said.
The 24-year-old admits he needs to be more consistent to hold a place in the Australian side after spending two years in and out of the line-up. “It was personally disappointing, you always want to play,” Zampa said of being dropped.
“It’s so annoying when you have to run drinks and do all that other crap.”
With his selection no longer in doubt, Zampa has turned his attention to Friday’s series decider in Hyderabad where the Australians are hoping to salvage a victory from a mostly disappointing tour.
WIN WILL SEE AUSSIE LEAPFROG INDIA
After emphatically ending India’s dominance against them in the shortest form of the game, Australia are ready to prove they’re no T20 easybeats. Hyderabad is the final stop on a one-month limited overs tour of India, with Friday’s match a chance to steal victory in the three-match series. The gulf between the two sides was evident in the one-day international series where the hosts prevailed 4-1.
And when it looked as though the T20 series was destined for a similar fate after Australia lost a rain-affected match in Ranchi, they avoided an eighth- straight defeat by India in Guwahati.
Despite the remarkable growth of the Big Bash League and Australian players’ success in the IPL and other domestic competitions, the national side has failed to make an impact.
Australia has been knocked out of the last three World Twenty20 tournaments before the group stage and are currently ranked No. 6 in the world, one place behind India.
A win will see Australia switch positions with India, in a series where they’ve been without services of Chris Lynn, skipper Steve Smith in addition to front line quicks Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Australia’s resurgence was led by two players who were free of any scars picked up in the demoralising ODI series.
Fast bowler Jason Behrendorff and all-rounder Moises Henriques. Behrendorff’s spell of 4-21 set up an easily attainable target which Henriques (62 off 46) pursued in concert with Travis Head (48 off 34).
It was a breakthrough knock for Head who struggled to build rhythm in his ODI innings.
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