Cricket World Cup: Australia should pick a leg-spinner like Cameron Boyce or Adam Zampa, writes Allan Border

AUSTRALIA must be bold and daring and pick a young leg-spinner in its 15-man World Cup squad, writes Allan Border.

Australia's Cameron Boyce celebrates after taking the wicket of South Africa's Rilee Rossouw caught by Australia's Sean Abbott during the Australia v South Africa T20 International cricket match at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

AUSTRALIA must be bold and daring and pick a young leg-spinner in their World Cup squad.

I have a soft spot for Queenslander Cameron Boyce but I’ve also enjoyed watching the improvement of young South Australian leggie Adam Zampa.

Both of these lads have been terrific in the Big Bash and if they can handle that, they can handle bowling in 50-over cricket.

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A lot of international teams either don’t play leg spin well or they don’t see a lot of it.

So I really think either one of Boyce or Zampa could prove to be a real winner in the World Cup and give the Australian bowling attack a bit of mystery about it.

I’m confident neither of these guys would bowl rubbish and if they go for runs it will be because there has been some really good batting.

South Australian Adam Zampa is a chance to be selected in Australia’s World Cup squad.

Australia has a nice pace attack but I think the inclusion of a young leggie would give them a more complete squad that would be a handful in any conditions.

Both Boyce and Zampa are wicket-taking options and that is vital in one-day cricket.

You only have to look at how important Brad Hogg was for Australia at two World Cups to realise the value of an attacking spinner in the middle overs when batsmen are looking to knock the ball around.

HEAT ON HEAT

THERE is no hiding from the fact the Brisbane Heat have had a disappointing season and we will have to look at our list of players for next season.

The post-mortem of the season will have to focus on how we can improve our list, possibly with the inclusion of a new strike bowler.

I’m not making excuses here but we have really missed injured West Indian spinner Samuel Badree. He was going to open the bowling for us and would have been fantastic and perhaps got us across the line in a couple of the games we have lost.

Ben Cutting’s Brisbane Heat are on the bottom of the BBL04 ladder.

Other Big Bash sides seem to have had better strike bowling options than us and we have been off the boil in that department.

We must look at potentially one or two players for next season that can bolster us and make us more competitive.

GREAT RESPECT

I’VE always had great respect for my old mate Sunny Gavaskar and I’m really looking forward to presenting the Border-Gavaskar trophy with him at the SCG on Saturday.

I met Sunny on my first overseas Test tour, in India in 1979, and we hit it off almost immediately.

To appreciate what an amazing batsman he was, you only have to look at his numbers.

Sunny’s record stacks up against anyone because to average 51 when you are opening the batting facing new-ball bowlers is simply phenomenal.

There is nowhere to hide when you are coming in at No. 1 and he scored more runs against the West Indies than against any other side.

It will be a big thrill and an honour to present the trophy with Sunny today.

Originally published as Cricket World Cup: Australia should pick a leg-spinner like Cameron Boyce or Adam Zampa, writes Allan Border