Test greats criticise selection of Adam Zampa over rising talent Tanveer Sangha

He is a mainstay for Australia in limited overs cricket but Adam Zampa’s return to first class cricket has ruffled a few feathers.

Adam Zampa’s dream of making a Test debut in Sri Lanka is in limbo, with a cameo in Sheffield Shield cricket at risk of being dramatically cut short after his selection was panned for “taking the piss” of NSW cricket.

After his controversial match against Tasmania, the Australian ODI star had indicated in an interview this week that he was set to back up for NSW’s next game against Western Australia at the SCG, but on Saturday NSW selector Stuart Clark appeared to shut the door on any prospect of that and also took a shot at Cricket Australia over what has turned into an angst-ridden mess.

However, it is still possible Zampa could play Friday’s match pending further talks between the spinner and NSW.

Ex-greats including Mark Taylor and Brad Haddin strongly questioned the Australian ODI leg-spinner’s selection over up-and-coming leggie Tanveer Sangha in the Blues’ Sheffield Shield loss to Tasmania as jeopardising the culture of what it should mean to play for NSW.

Adam Zampa’s selection in the NSW team has not been well-received by all. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Even Cricket NSW board member Ed Cowan and NSW women’s captain Alyssa Healy conceded they didn’t necessarily like the message that the selection sends.

CA high performance chief Ben Oliver said this week that it was ultimately NSW’s call to pick Zampa.

Sources from CA and NSW confirmed Oliver’s version of events, which was that Zampa wanted to play, NSW checked to make sure he was on the radar of Australian selectors.

Selectors said they were and so NSW decided to pick him against Tasmania.

But that didn’t stop former Test quick Clark returning serve at CA with a differing version of events.

“We were told Zampa had to play,” Clark told ABC.

“Quite frankly I don’t understand Cricket Australia’s comments.

“What we were told to do and what’s in the press is the opposite … we would love to have him around but if he wants to be around the NSW four-day set-up, he needs to come to training and play grade cricket.”

If Australian selectors are to pick Zampa for the tour of Sri Lanka in February it will be because they’ve already decided to take him and can’t be based on his four wickets across two innings in the loss to Tassie.

State cricket might exist primarily to service the picking of Australian teams, but depending on who you believe is responsible, either NSW or Australian selectors have cost 23-year-old Tanveer, a genuine long-term leg-spinning investment, the chance to continue his all-important development in the Sheffield Shield in favour of a 32-year-old getting a one off game.

No one is begrudging Zampa the family-first lifestyle he has chosen living on a farm in Byron Bay, which balances well with his Australian white ball commitments, but when he has made a decision to base himself 765km away and not train with NSW, it does make these kind of selections even harder to justify.

NSW Women’s captain Alyssa Healy said she understood why the Blues had made the selection, “But yes, you are kind of taking the piss a little bit of the baggy blue,” she said on the Willow Talk Podcast.

Adam Zampa’s selection for NSW in the Sheffield Shield has caused an uproar. Picture: AFP

Another high profile figure within the organisation Cowan indicated on his ABC Grandstand Cricket Podcast with Corbin Middlemas this week that it would be even harder to take if Zampa didn’t back-up to play a second game against Western Australia at the SCG starting on Friday.

“… A guy who had to introduce himself I imagine to three or four people,” Cowan said of Zampa’s selection.

“He was joking that he’d never met some of his teammates, he doesn’t have a club team, he lives on the north coast … I don’t like it. I’ve openly said that. But if Cricket Australia are saying one thing then state cricket is there to provide talent for the Test team.

“The one thing that is odd to me is … if he only ends up playing one game, how are they ever going to pick someone for a Sri Lankan tour on one game of cricket anyway?

“This isn’t a guy who has committed to red ball cricket and goes and plays county cricket. He’s shown no interest in red ball cricket, whatsoever, so you go and play one game at the SCG, (and) ‘oh actually, maybe you should go on a Test tour?

“… Sure (the Australian selectors) want options, but surely the options involve people who are committed to not only the format but also the development pathway that’s required. I find it hard.”

Adam Zampa is a mainstay for Australia in the short forms of the game. Picture: Pat Hoelscher / AFP

It’s unclear whether Zampa was ever playing both games but he indicated he would play both games at the SCG this week when discussing his Test dream.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a total burning desire. It’s something I’d like to do and challenge myself at,” Zampa said when asked about the five-day format.

“If I got to end my career and it didn’t pan out that way then I’d be OK with it.

“I might look back one day and feel like maybe I didn’t give it a 100 per cent crack, and I feel like playing these games and putting my hand up for the Sri Lanka tour and being keen for that is fine.”

The entire uproar could actually have been avoided had NSW paired the two leggies Zampa and Tanveer together against Tasmania.

But instead Tanveer was also overlooked for off-spinner Chris Green, a player who handed back his NSW State contract on the eve of the season so he had the freedom to pursue freelance T20 opportunities.

Tanveer Sangha missed selection with Adam Zampa’s return to first class cricket. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Tanveer’s treatment only proves there is very little incentive for players to be full-time state cricketers in the modern game – reflecting the concern expressed by Steve Waugh over the future of Australian Test cricket.

“I’m an Adam Zampa fan. What he’s done for Australia I think he’s been outstanding in the white ball,” former Australian vice-captain Haddin said on his Willow Talk podcast.

“But I don’t think he should be playing this Shield game. He doesn’t come to training. He’s not part of the NSW system. And I just think it sends a real bad message to our younger players in the squad.

“The week previous he came out and said I don’t train with NSW. Part of being in a squad is helping develop everyone around and he’s a senior player.

“We know how good he is in white ball. I just think NSW has really let their standards drop there.

“Tanveer Sangha, what sort of message does that send to him? Chris Green is playing as well, Chris Green at the start of the year gave back his contract and said ‘no. No I want to go over and play a tournament wherever … I don’t want to be considered for a few games.

“He comes back in the team, but Tanveer is in there the whole time. I just think we’re letting our standards slip a bit there and what that baggy blue means.”

Originally published as Test greats criticise selection of Adam Zampa over rising talent Tanveer Sangha