Adam Zampa Bats For Spin Conducive Wickets In Shield Cricket; Says Drop-in Pitches Are Driving Spinners Out Of The Game
Updated - 12 May 2020, 06:22 PM
Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa has joined the chorus in asking the cricket authorities in the country to review the wickets dished out in Shield cricket, saying that the drop-in pitches employed across most of the venues Down Under is slowing driving the spinners out of the game.
Australia has been employing drop-in pitched across most of its cricket venues barring Sydney Cricket Ground [SCG] and the Gabba in Brisbane and Zampa believes that it has changed the game massively.
The Australian white-ball spinner said that he has rarely come across a wicket aiding spin bowlers in the country in Shielf cricket, barring the odd occasion at the SCG and when the Adelaide Oval drop-in pitch was “green and patchy”.
“It’s really hard to get a wicket now that’s a day four turner with any rough. Spin has basically been taken out of the game now except for maybe the SCG for example – sometimes – if the weather suits as well. We’ve had to play a different role in first-class cricket, that’s for sure.” Adam Zampa told reports via video call as quoted by Hindustan Times.
Zampa added that the administrators have helped the seam and swing bowlers by introducing ‘The Dukes’ and now the spinner needs the same kind of help.
“I don’t know if it has to be every wicket but I think there has to be some sort of emphasis in bringing spin bowlers back into the game, particularly on day four as well,” Adam Zampa said.
Adam Zampa is not the only one who is concerned by the lack of encouragement for spinners in Shield cricket
Zampa’s comments come after he made his ambitions of nailing the spinners slot in the long form of the game public. The right-handed leg-spinner is rumored to move to New South Wales from South Australia after he was left frustrated by the lack of opportunities. But with the finalization of the contracts delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, he refused to comment on the matter.
In the past two seasons, Adam Zampa featured in just three Shield games where he bowled a total of 5.4 overs out of 105.1, at an average of 87.8, and a strike-rate of 126.2. If he does moves to New South Wales, he will get a chance to play t possibly the most spin-friendly track in Australia- Sydney.
Zampa is not the only one to raise his concerns against the lack of support for the spin bowlers in Shield cricket. Last month, Steven O’Keefe announced his retirement from four-day cricket after he was denied a contract with NSW. O’Keefe had warned that if Australia continues to discourage spinners at the domestic level, the team will find it hard to dominate in the sub-continent.
A few days ago, Usman Khawaja also warned that Australia may face a similar situation like they did when Shane Warne retired after Nathan Lyon calls it a day if they do not encourage the next line of spinners by providing them conducive conditions in domestic cricket.
Also Read: Usman Khawaja Worried By The Lack Of Spin Options In Australian Cricket
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Sheffield Shield
