ICC T20 World Cup 2022: “Intensity Of The Cricket We've Played Recently Has Probably Dropped Slightly” – Adam Zampa

Australia National Cricket Team leg-spinner Adam Zampa has said that the intensity of the cricket his side has played recently has dropped slightly in the lead-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

The Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 will commence with the high-profile battle between defending champions Australia National Cricket Team led by Aaron Finch and last year’s runners-up New Zealand National Cricket Team led by Kane Williamson at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, October 22.

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In the lead-up to the World Cup, Australia lost the T20I series against India and England. Also, they faced a defeat against India in the warm-up game. There has been a sense within the team that they have perhaps had a little too much cricket leading into the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Adam Zampa said that the players are very excited to go out in the middle and defend the title.

“I think the intensity of the cricket we’ve played recently has probably dropped slightly due to the fact we are keeping in mind how close the World Cup is,” Zampa said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“And nothing gets the juices flowing like having a trophy there for the taking. We always want to perform our best when playing for Australia but think you’ll see a few pumped boys for the World Cup.

“Think the comments about being tired were probably taken in the wrong way almost…the guys have been waiting around for this game for a while now.”

We all know T20 is a pretty fickle game – Adam Zampa

Adam Zampa further said that T20 is a “fickle game” and they will have to give their best to lift the trophy at home.

“Internally we all know T20 is a pretty fickle game. The worst that can happen is we don’t win this thing, the best that can happen is that we defend our title at home at the MCG.

“Don’t know if we are totally expected to win…but we do understand we should give it a red-hot crack. We have to earn the right to win it again. Last year we did that, we played some crucial cricket at crucial times [and] played our best cricket at the right time towards the end,” Adam Zampa said.

Adam Zampa is also aware of the fact that the weather could play a part in the tournament as there are high chances of rain for the game at the SCG and he has prepared accordingly. He said:

“Feels like every time we are at the SCG or in Sydney we are looking for rain to come. The way that I train I always have it at the back of mind, usually have a bucket to drop the ball into to prepare for that.

“We play so much cricket under lights and a lot of the places we travel around the world, as soon as you bat first and bowl second to defend a total that dew really kicks in.

“Saw it last year in the World Cup. [Almost] every time you bowl second you are bowling with a wet ball so it’s really important to prepare for that.”

Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2022: High Chances Of Rain Expected During India vs Pakistan And New Zealand vs Australia Matches