Adam Zampa’s road from ‘rock solid’ to ‘breathtaking’ and the number’s that prove he’s made for the big stage

Like Nathan Lyon in the Test arena, Adam Zampa has been able to step out of the shadow of Shane Warne and forge his own incredible legacy. His teammates chart his rise to MVP status.

Adam Zampa become Australia’s man for the big stage. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Adam Zampa’s former housemate has paid tribute to the Australian spinner, as teammates marvel at his extraordinary transition from dependable to “breathtaking.”

When Zampa first moved to Sydney as a young leg-spinner with dreams of being Shane Warne, he was invited to live with David Warner.

Now teammates for Australia chasing a Triple Crown of cricket World Cups, Warner believes Zampa’s greatest strength is his uncanny record for dismissing the best batsmen in the game.

Case in point is the fact he has claimed the wicket of white ball GOAT Virat Kohli eight times in international cricket (five in ODIs and three in T20s).

Glenn Maxwell, who played cricket with Warne, says the current Australian leg-spinner is a very different bowler from his boyhood hero, but sums it up best when he says Zampa is to the white ball set-up what Nathan Lyon is to the Test team.

Before the tournament, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh nominated Zampa as his team’s most important player.

Adam Zampa has been unstoppable at the T20 World Cup. Picture: Ashley Allen/Getty Images

So far he is the second highest wicket-taker of the tournament with nine wickets in four games, and Zampa will be instrumental in Australia’s first Super Eights clash against spin specialists Bangladesh in Antigua on Friday morning AEST.

Warner reveals he shares a little known connection with Zampa stretching back more than a decade and his pride at watching the leggie’s evolution.

“Yeah he lived with me for about a year, which was great. It was a good bond,” Warner said.

“I think I was away for six months of the year but we lived together and it was awesome.

“He’s come a long way since then. He’s just worked so hard on his white ball game and has zeroed in.

“To give the best batsmen in the world a lot of difficulty, especially in these conditions here, it’s a true testament to the way he’s gone about his business.

“He moved states as well. And it’s just good to see where he was at our age to come and still be playing beside him today.”

Zampa has praised former Australian captain Aaron Finch for instilling the self-belief he needed to go from expendable part-time international player, to the man who has engineered Australia’s past two World Cup wins, in the T20 in 2021, and last year’s ODI triumph.

Finch would say that faith was more than rewarded by a bowler who is defined by his Warne-like ability to dismiss the best batsman on any opposition team.

While Kohli is his gold standard, Zampa has dismissed England captain Jos Buttler five times, Indian captain Rohit Sharma four times, Moeen Ali four times, Mohammad Rizwan four times, Hardik Pandya four times, and former international captains Eoin Morgan and Kane Williamson a number of times as well.

Maxwell said Zampa has not just become a great cricketer but one who takes the breath away with the quality and consistency of his work as a certified big-moment match-winner.

He might not be Shane Warne, but one day Australian bowlers will also be compared to Adam Zampa.

“I think they bowl very differently, but Zamps has obviously been ridiculously good for what feels like ages now,” Maxwell said.

“I feel like all the time we’ve played together, he’s gone from rock solid and really dependable, to almost a bit breathtaking.

“During these big tournaments against big teams, he stands up in big moments. He’s taken so many big wickets for us.

From rock solid ...

...to breathtaking. Pictures: Getty Images

“He’s been huge for us.

“I think everyone could have predicted before this tournament how important he’d be for us.

“As you see it, you’re like, ‘that’s why he’s as good as he is.’

“He just keeps getting the job done.”

Nathan Lyon, in his own unique way, has emulated Warne in the Test arena by becoming the greatest off-spinner Australia has seen, and a man who proved impossible to replace when he injured himself midway through last year’s Ashes.

And Maxwell insists Zampa has become that man for Australia in ODI and T20 cricket.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have two world class spinners. One of them in the Test arena and one in the white ball arena,” Maxwell said.

“Completely different crafts, but the way both have adapted to their formats and what their strengths are is great to watch.”