Redbacks coach Darren Berry says Adam Zampa could have helped Australia spin to victory in World Cup

AUSTRALIA has named its 15-man squad to win the World Cup and the selectors have put together a quality unit - but one glaring omission was the absence of a wrist-spinner.

Strikers Adam Zampa in action during the KFC Big Bash match Sydney Sixers v Adelaide Strikers at the SCG. pic. Phil Hillyard

AUSTRALIA has named its 15-man squad to win the World Cup and the selectors have put together a quality unit.

But one glaring omission was the absence of a wrist-spinner.

Xavier Doherty was given the nod as the main spinner and, bowling his steady, economical left-arm orthodox, he will be assisted by the part-time off-spin of Glenn Maxwell.

It could be argued Steve Smith can bowl some leg-spin if required but the lack of a frontline wristie was the only area we overlooked. I’m sure it got healthy debate at the selection table.

I will declare my bias and say Adam Zampa must have been awfully close.

He was very good earlier in the summer in the domestic one-day competition and has been a shining light in our BBL Strikers’ top-of-the-table campaign. His control and ability to take wickets and bowl dry has been inspiring, especially for one so young.

Cameron Boyce has developed enormously since making a bold move to leave his home state of Queensland for the BBL, three summers ago. He spent one series with us at the Strikers before moving to Hobart for the past two summers. He is a bit slower through the air than Zampa but equally skilled in the short version of the game. I’m sure his name was also on the whiteboard at Rod Marsh’s office.

The only other leg-spinner who may have got a mention is Fawad Ahmed who 12 months ago was the hot topic around town. His citizenship was rushed through at the highest level as it was touted he was next in line. He seems to have gone back in the pecking order recently. He has had a good summer in Sheffield Shield cricket and has really good control. In fact, his variety of deliveries and older head may have been a wise choice.

Leg-spin is the most difficult skill to master and young leggies need nurturing and patience. It is a craft that when done well can really inspire a team. Equally as an express pace bowler like Mitch Johnson can really intimidate opponents a quality leggie like Shane Warne can demoralise them. Most batsmen around the world fear two things, serious pace and quality leg-spin.

We are blessed at the moment that we have three genuine options to work with and it would be great to see either Boyce or Zampa on the Ashes tour this winter.

I have been lucky enough to work closely with Zampa over the past two summers and have been delighted with his progress.

When he arrived from Sydney he had some basic technical flaws that needed correction. Without divulging too much, the main thing we have worked on is his alignment at point of delivery.

Adam embraced a boring pre-season in the indoor centre three-four times a week for three months doing basic drills to change the motor program in his brain.

We broke his run-up down, right back to bowling on the crease without a run-up and then off two steps, four steps and so on until his full run-up simply got him into a strong position at point of delivery to best deliver his leg-spinners. Adam was prepared to do the hard yards as boring as it was at times and we are now seeing the benefits.

Spin to win was a phrase we used a few summers back when the Redbacks won the Twenty20 competition with a combination of a raw Nathan Lyon (straight off the roller), the economical and clever Aaron O’Brien and English import leg- spinner Adil Rashid. I am a big believer and supporter of spin and again this BBL series the skill of our captain Johan Botha, Zampa and the surprise left-arm spin of Craig Simmons has been a big reason for our success.

Across town and across codes new Crows coach Phillip Walsh has declared his club will have a no spin policy this winter. I hope the Australian selection panel disagrees and takes one of the leg-spinners to England in the winter as we look to retain the Ashes.

Originally published as Redbacks coach Darren Berry says Adam Zampa could have helped Australia spin to victory in World Cup