Australia’s summer of Test cricket has come to an end, the debate about who should feature in India come February has begun, and when it comes to the subcontinent, it’s the spinners who provide the most discussion.
Which and how many spinners will the selectors take on this four-Test match series over in India?
Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe will be on the plane, but Adam Zampa has gone from strength to strength.
Zampa has become a wrist spinner of immense quality – ODI stats of 30 wickets at 27.80, and nine wickets at 17.88 in T20 shows the man has what it takes to be a successful international cricketer.
It might only be early days, but it’s a promising start. When an opportunity has presented itself he has taken it with both hands.
Those who are against Zampa joining the touring party to India will inevitably look towards his first-class statistics: 62 wickets at 50.35 won’t please the purists, but there are certainly factors leading to those statistics. The main factor is the pitches.
As we have seen through the Test summer, the pitches in Australia are roads and offer absolutely nothing to spin bowlers. Look at Yasir Shah: his statistics in the latest Test series against Australia saw him finish with eight wickets at an average of 84.
We are talking about the best international spinner going around, struggling on Australian pitches.
As much as I am for players performing in the first-class arena in order to gain a baggy green, there should be an exception.
Despite having a short career, Zampa has played enough cricket in those conditions to understand how to bowl in subcontinental conditions.
The ICC World T20 in India, the Indian Premier League and an ODI tour of Sri Lanka have seen Zampa succeed, because his bowling is perfectly suited to the conditions.
While the above are not the longer formats of the game, Zampa has shown he can bowl well on the subcontinent and that’s crucial.
He bowls at the correct speed and trajectory for India. In terms of his line and lengths, he attacks the stumps and that is perfectly suited to the conditions. He may not be the biggest turner of the ball, but his subtle variations make him a real weapon and will keep the Indian top order guessing.
What also is reassuring is his confidence. It’s difficult to find leg-spinners who back themselves regardless of the situation. Zampa loves the contest and that’s exactly what Australia need in such a tough place for foreign cricketers.
A wrist spinner almost feels a must if Australia are to have any success in a country to which they have not enjoyed travelling. If given the opportunity, this could be the making of Zampa’s Test career.
The Australian selectors need to be creative, and selecting Zampa would be that.
Shane Warne may not have had the success he would have liked during his time in India, but Zampa is different. Being a unique leg-spinner will work in his favour, and give him a chance of having success in a place not many travelling leg-spinners do.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
If Zampa is the 2nd best leggie in Australia in the long format of the game, the choice is a no-brainer. We don't take a leggie to India. Warne was the best of all time and averaged 43 on Indian spin-friendly pitches despite a FC average of 26. Warne also had plenty of IPL success so the argument that Zampa's previous success in India would mean test success is mere nonsense wrapped in some warm fuzzies.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Zampa's red ball performances come with a huge warning label- "Not to be considered for test cricket"
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Well said.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
This has to be the funniest suggestion regarding the Indian tour, except for the reality that Wade will tour as keeper. The first class you rattle off quickly and dismiss highlight a simple truth about Zampa's bowliing. He needs scoreboard pressure forcing batsmen to press for runs to be effective. I doubt that will be the case in the Indian test series. Recent tests in India show that Indian batsmen are happy to bat for long times to make their runs. I am all for experimenting with some youth, but at least let there be some merit from performances in similar formats. We have already seen the damage done when selectors disrespect the baggy green with silly whims. PS. Want a wrist spinner that can bowl with a red ball. Pick Swepson... FC average 32... on those Aussie pitches that leggies cant be effective on.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Shane Warne, the greatest leg spinner we have ever produced averaged 43 in India. sounds like Adam Zampa is not a good idea
Ants32
Roar Rookie
Upvote. :D
blanco
Guest
Swepson is the most talented spin bowler. He has all the tools already. I think he is ready for test cricket. Again, I probably would not debut him in India, because its obvious finger spinners do much better there. I would definitely have him as the second spinner after this series though.
Marshall
Guest
Well let's flesh that out: QLD - nope, Swepson younger and better NSW - O'Keefe and Lyon TAS - Perhaps, but Doherty fills a role for them SA - Zampa WA - Agar He would be competing for a place anywhere but TAS, where he might have the inside running
qwetzen
Guest
Yep. I think he's definitely got the potential to emulate Bryce McGain.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Yeah, you wonder how short the site is of content when this dross gets through.
JGK
Roar Guru
I can't see the "Ha" logo on this article.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Yeah I also wonder about that. I accept that it is hard for foreign spinners to come here, due to the pace and bounce, just like our spinners struggle overseas. But surely all our good home-grown spinners knew how to bowl in Australia.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Fawad needs to move states. He'd walk into any Shield side other than NSW and Victoria. He's probably not quite good enough for Test cricket but he's a good solid first class spinner.
Basil
Guest
Is the author?
Adrian
Guest
He is probably the 2nd best leg spinner in Australia, so I'll give him that, and, with Mitchell Swepson being too inexperienced to consider taking to India, if we feel the need to take a leg spinner, maybe we should take Zampa. But it is a huge risk to take him, let alone to actually play him. I know that selectors need to take risks every so often but this seems to me to be too big a risk. With the right side we might actually win this test series, and I don't think we can afford a risk of this calibre.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Zampa is a completely useless long form spinner and isn't good enough for Shield cricket. If I was a South Australian selector he wouldn't be in the squad. If selected for India he will be eaten alive.
Chop
Roar Guru
I'd like to see all the potential test leggies actually play some shield cricket before being in a conversation for test cricket....call me old fashioned but bowling 20 overs a day seems different to bowling 4 where batsman are trying to score off every ball.
Chop
Roar Guru
For Victoria? Isn't he behind Jon Holland? That's not a glowing recommendation.
Chop
Roar Guru
Are you talking about test cricket?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
give Fawad a crack