Cricketer Adam Zampa wants to work with, not cancel, sponsor Alinta Energy

Pat Cummins ‘started the conversation’ about the men’s national team sponsor Alinta Energy, and it is one his environmentally conscious teammate Adam Zampa is keen to continue.

The complexity of cricket’s great climate debate has been laid bare by environmentally conscious star Adam Zampa linking with Alinta Energy to promote the virtues of his green lifestyle.

Zampa on Wednesday praised Pat Cummins for “starting a conversation” about CA’s partnership with energy company Alinta, which is coming to an end following a mutual decision by both parties.

According to Zampa, athletes have a right as role models to express personal opinions about social issues involving their sport and not simply stick to bowling, warning; “The world’s changing. The world of sport and business is also changing.”

However, Zampa admits “we don’t live in a perfect world” and demonstrated his pragmatism in dealing with the polarising issue earlier this year when he took cameras on a tour of his Byron Bay property to explain his “sustainability journey” as part of a commercial series sponsored by Alinta.

Adam Zampa is able to reconcile his environmental concerns and Alinta Energy’s sponsorship of the national men’s team. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

“If there’s one thing people can do to think about their sustainability journey Is just to educate themselves,” Zampa said in the video posted nine months ago, titled ‘Sustainability and creativity: A tour of Zampa’s property – Alinta Leaving My Mark.

“I still learn every day about the ways we can help our impact on the ecosystem.”

Zampa explains in the video how he’s trying to set up a habitat on his property for koalas to live, and how ultimately he and his wife want to enhance their vegan lifestyle by growing all their own food.

The cricketing ace has three goats, two rescue dogs and some cows and decided to restore his old Queenslander home rather than rebuild using new materials.

The fact Zampa was prepared to engage with Alinta for the Cricket Australia commercial content but use it as a way to promote his sustainable lifestyle suggests he has taken a realistic approach to the powder keg issue of energy companies sponsoring major sports.

“I’ve obviously got some personal views about some sponsors we’ve got at the moment but I think the fact that Pat has started a conversation is great,” said Zampa.

“I think there’s got to be a collaborative approach between the players and CA and sponsors, but that’s probably all I can really comment.

“… We’re obviously role models. I don’t think we necessarily just stick to playing.

“I think a collaborative approach is important.

“I do understand that money is important. We are part of a business. We are the face of that as well.

“There’s a lot of stuff up in the air at the moment with Pat yesterday and Alinta and the conversations are great that they’re starting.

“Pat is a really great face for us as well. The world’s changing, the world of sport and business is also changing.”

Zampa said he would accept a man-of-the-match award during the World Cup which is being sponsored by Saudi Arabian energy giant Aramco.

Pat Cummins says cricket needed to think carefully about which companies they aligned with. Picture: Albert Perez - ICC/ICC via Getty Images

“We don’t live in a perfect world. The fact there is some conversations starting about it already, it’s going to be a steep learning curve for everyone,” he said.

“Hopefully I get the man-of-the-match award at some stage though.”

Zampa wants to use his profile as a cricketer to be an advocate for sustainable living.

“The information is there. I think we can all make slight changes to improve how we view climate change,” he said.

“I live a certain lifestyle myself that I try and keep my ethics in mind in every decision that I make.

“I live a vegan lifestyle and a lot of that is to do with the ethics around the way we treat animals. That’s originally how it started anyway.

“And then you obviously get a lot of information around the choices you make for the earth and what the vision looks like for the planet.

“I try and make really conscious choices about what I put into my body, where I buy things from, what materials are more sustainable living wise for the planet. There’s the information out there, you can find it easily.”

MONEY OR MORALS? THE DIVISIVE DEBATE EXPLODING IN SPORT

- Robert Craddock

Professional sport is trapped between the cash it needs to survive and the conviction it needs to change the world.

Morals, ethics and big bucks are flying in all directions, pulling against each other in a twisted, compromised unsettled world.

Australian captain Pat Cummins, who has made a crusade out of reducing cricket’s carbon footprint, denied trying to influence Cricket Australia to cut ties with sponsor Alinta Energy.

But Cummins and CA certainly discussed the broad sentiment that players care about the brands they are associated with.

Australian netball is up in arms over the contract with mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

That’s the same Gina Rinehart who has Olympic sports like rowing, swimming and beach volleyball falling at her feet for the massive cash injections she gives them between Olympic Games.

One sport’s princess can be another one’s pariah. It’s weird.

Pat Cummins has denied playing a role in Cricket Australia’s decision to cut ties with sponsor Alinta Energy.

No-one knows where the journey will end – or even where it should end because if you really want to be picky about it you don’t have to go far to create an issue.

Is it appropriate that the Big Bash, a cricket tournament designed to lure kids, is sponsored by a fast food outlet? Is it right that a gambling company sponsors the boundary rope in Test matches?

And what about a chocolate company sponsoring the Wallabies in a country with mounting concerns over obesity among our children?

Should the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan cricket team have been allowed in Australia to play the World Cup?

This time last year Australia cancelled a Test in Hobart against Afghanistan due to deep concerns over the Taliban’s human rights record yet somehow they breezed into Australia for the World Cup without a word of objection.

What’s actually changed?

There are contradictions everywhere. The PGA golf tour in America is at war with Greg Norman’s LIV golf tour partially on the grounds that it is funded by Saudi Arabia’s rulers who have an abominable human rights record.

Yet the PGA has no issue with the fact that its major sponsor FedEx recently announced a $550 million dollar deal to support the Saudi economy, “reaffirming their commitment to the country’s growth.’’

So while the PGA is horrified by the thought of dancing with the devil they don’t mind dancing with those who do.

Sports are finding it challenging because many of the sponsors with the deepest pockets – gambling and energy companies – are the ones with the social issues.

Confused? Aren’t we all.

CUMMINS DENIES $40M ENERGY DEAL

– Ben Horne

Pat Cummins has denied he pressured Cricket Australia to end its $40 million sponsorship with energy company Alinta, but confirmed he will not be seen in their ads this summer.

At a press conference announcing his appointment as Australia’s new ODI captain, Cummins was questioned about his role Alinta and Cricket Australia mutually deciding to end their partnership after this summer.

Cummins admits he shares a good relationship with CA chief executive Nick Hockley and has discussed his personal views on the game’s partnership with Alinta, but denied he played any part in the decision to part ways.

“No, not at all. Nick, the CEO and I have a really good relationship. We talk about lots of things. But no, I’ve been a big supporter of all our partners over the last few years,” said Cummins.

“I think it’s probably a stretch exactly what happened.”

Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins in the Alinta Energy ad.

Cummins said he was supportive of all CA’s corporate partners but did admit he won’t be appearing in Alinta ads this summer.

“Yeah, not for this season,” said Cummins.

The Australian captain defended the right of players’ to have a say on which companies they would like to align with as individual athletes.

“I think it’s always been a balance. You’ve seen certain players make decisions based on religions or maybe certain foods they eat, they won’t partner specific partners,” said Cummins.

“But we really thank all our partners for everything they do for Cricket Australia and for grassroots supporting the game, and we know our responsibilities. We try and do our best.”

Cummins said cricket needed to think carefully about which companies they aligned with.

“And not just us players, every organisation has a responsibility to do what’s right for the sport but also what they think is the right thing for the organisation and a whole society when it moves forward,” he said.

“I think it’s a balance when you make decisions about who you are going to welcome into the cricket family.”

Cummins said he had no issue with the fact the International Cricket Council had announced a controversial partnership with energy giant Aramco without consulting players.

“It’s obviously far away from the decisions us players make. It’s an ICC decision,” he said.

“The players are fairly arms reach away from their decision-making. It’s fine.”

Originally published as Cricketer Adam Zampa wants to work with, not cancel, sponsor Alinta Energy