Adam Zampa out of NSW Sheffield Shield side after past greats question selection

Adam Zampa’s week of Sheffield Shield controversy has ended with a big selection call by NSW. Find out what it means for his Test hopes.

Adam Zampa will not play NSW’s Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia, bringing to an end more than a week’s controversy over the decision to select him against Tasmania.

The call to select the Australian white-ball leg-spinner in the Shield clash against Tassie late last month caused a stir both within NSW circles and more broadly. Cricket NSW selector and board member Stuart Clark claimed on the ABC that Cricket Australia had instructed NSW to pick the leggie as he pushed his claims to be part of the squad for the Test tour of Sri Lanka early next year.

CA has repeatedly denied that assertion, with Zampa subsequently telling Cricket Et Al that NSW wasn’t forced to pick him.

Initially the broadly agreed plan was for Zampa to play just one of the last two pre-Christmas Shield matches, both of which come at the famously spin-friendly SCG.

Adam Zampa playing for NSW in the Sheffield Shield. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

However the picture appeared to become murkier in the aftermath of NSW’s narrow loss to the Tigers, with the door seemingly left ajar for Zampa to face WA in a match beginning on Friday.

But this masthead has confirmed from multiple sources that Zampa will not play WA, paving the way for Tanveer Sangha to return to the Shield line-up should NSW choose to pick the younger leg-spinner.

The omission is not expected to have any impact on Zampa’s chances of being selected for the Sri Lankan tour.

It’s understood Zampa has since received an apology from CNSW over the way the saga has played out

CA’s national teams boss Ben Oliver insisted last week that the call to pick Zampa had ultimately been up to NSW.

“The national selection panel are in regular contact with each state association, but ultimately, the selection for each Sheffield Shield match or domestic matches is very much the realm of the state association,” Oliver said.

“The selection panel are very pleased to see all players playing domestic cricket and have as many options as possible for each of our upcoming series.”

Zampa, 32, is uncapped at Test level but is keen to play in the format.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a total burning desire. It’s something I’d like to do and challenge myself at,” Zampa said.

Zampa was pushing to make the Test squad for Sri Lanka.

“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 fact that Zampa does not regularly train with NSW teammates led to several ex-Blues players questioning the call for him to play.

Meanwhile Jake Fraser-McGurk is set to play his first Shield match of the season in South Australia’s clash with Tassie after being bypassed thus far when available

Originally published as Adam Zampa out of NSW Sheffield Shield side after past greats question selection