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Zampa dismisses Warne comparisons

Young leggie says he's no clone of one of the greatest bowlers to play the game

For the past decade, part of an Australian spin bowler's lot in life has been to deal with comparisons - directly or otherwise - with the legendary Shane Warne.

The latest player to be mentioned in the same breath as the greatest slow bowler to have played the game, international rookie Adam Zampa, is - like those before him - having none of it.

As was the case with a young Steve Smith, Zampa's blond locks and the fact he's a leg-spin bowler have made comparisons between he and Warne more plausible than the raft of tweakers who have followed the great spinner into the Australian side.

Zampa's casual approach to the wicket and bowling action is also closer to Warne's than arguably any other leggie since Test cricket's second highest wicket-taker retired almost a decade ago.

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Broadcasters have used split-screen technology to highlight the similarity between the pair, while just two months ago Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh became the latest to compare the young leggie to his famous predecessor.

While conceding the looks and approach to the crease are the same, Zampa insists that's where the similarities end.

"Most people who say that probably just see my smooth run up and don't actually see the ball come out of my hand," he says.

"There's only one Shane Warne and there's probably only ever going to one guy like him who can bowl as many strong leg breaks all day for five days straight. It's pretty unheard of.

"He was so big and so strong and his leg spinner was just unbelievable.

"It's something to strive towards, but I'm a long way off that. My run up is similar but that's about it."

Zampa's fledgling international career will continue in next month's one-day international tri-series against the West Indies and South Africa, which begins in Guyana on Friday.

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The leggie will likely be vying with Test spinner Nathan Lyon for a spot in the side, with off-spinning allrounder Glenn Maxwell to offer another slow-bowling option for captain Steve Smith.

Zampa has impressed in his limited international opportunities so far; he took 2-57 and 1-45 in his debut ODI series in New Zealand in February and then took five wickets in four matches at an economy rate of just 6.27 during the ICC World T20.

With Lyon far from secure in the limited overs team, Zampa knows this series represents a great opportunity to solidify his place in the one-day format.

Even if more matches for Australia will reduce his opportunities to develop his red-ball game in Sheffield Shield cricket, and lower his current first-class bowling average of 50.77, as he strives for the ultimate goal of a Baggy Green cap.

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"The conditions (in the Caribbean) are going to suit me from what the boys have told me," he said.

"I've only played the two ODIs and I think I did pretty well at the Twenty20 World Cup so moving forward hopefully I can continue to do well.

"I think there's something like 20 ODIs in the next 12 months so if I do well and cement that spot, it's going to be a pretty exciting 12 months for me.

"Hopefully that cements my spot even more into the future.

"(A white-ball specialist) is probably the way some people look at me at the moment, but in the last two or three years I haven't played that much four-day cricket anyway.

"The opportunities I've been given and the way I'm bowling now compared to 12 months ago - which is about three Shield games ago for me - I think I'm a much better bowler now. I know I'm a much better bowler now then I was back then.

"I'm happy to be playing one-dayers and T20s, but I'd be disappointed in myself if I felt like I wasn't improving.

"I feel like that's happening so if that continues then I'm happy."

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