Melbourne: Former Australian cricketer David Hussey believes Adam Zampa’s omission from the Border-Gavaskar series in India could have dealt a body blow to the off-spinner’s Test aspirations.
Hussey, 45, a white-ball specialist, felt strongly about Zampa’s exclusion after being assured of a Test berth in the India tour.
“He (Zampa) played a red-ball Shield game for New South Wales against Victoria at the Junction Oval just prior to the Big Bash starting and he bowled particularly well,” Hussey told SEN Radio Thursday.
“I think all reports from (head coach Andrew) McDonald and (chairman of selectors) George Bailey (was that) he (Zampa) was going to be going to India.”
The former Australia cricketer added that had Zampa been selected, he would have been successful in India.
“Unfortunately for Adam (Zampa) he didn’t get the nod, but personally I think he would do an excellent job. Not too dissimilar to Anil Kumble, who was a fine bowler for India for many a year.
“Purely a sub-continent selection, I think he would have done a great job. But it would seem with his snub that his Test aspirations have probably passed him by,” opined Hussey.
Zampa had recently hinted he had got indication that he could be on the Test tour of India.
“I thought with the way that I’ve been going in international cricket in particular that this was going to be my opportunity (to play Test cricket),” Zampa had told cricket.Com.Au.
“And that was the message I got six weeks ago as well that this was going to be a very good chance I could potentially be on it but now that I’m not, I’m very flat about it and it’s time to just move on from it.”
The selectors have opted for Nathan Lyon, Ashton Agar, Todd Murphy and Mitch Swepson in the spin department in the 18-member squad.
“I’m a little bit biased… But the skill-set there, he (Zampa) bowls fast, he bowls with good overspin, he can turn it both ways and he really attacks the stumps, every time he bowls a ball the batsman is playing and bring the close fielders into play,” Hussey said.
“LBW, caught behind, caught bat-pad, bowled so many different dismissals are in hand. I thought if he had got the nod and got the opportunity to play Test cricket in India, I don’t think he would have shamed himself at all, I think he would have done exceptionally well.”
PTI
