Sidelined Zampa says country comes first

Australia and Melbourne Stars leg-spinner Adam Zampa will be glued to his TV screen to watch tonight's crucial KFC Big Bash League clash in Melbourne, but says he'll always prioritise the possibility of a game for his country over a BBL match.

The Melbourne Stars will be without five of their best players for their pivotal BBL clash against the Sydney Sixers at the MCG tonight, with Zampa, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Peter Handscomb and Marcus Stoinis all in Sydney with Australia's ODI squad ahead of tomorrow's match against Pakistan at the SCG.

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The absence of some of the Stars' key players has led to criticism from their English import Kevin Pietersen, who is particularly disappointed that Stoinis has not been released for the match at the MCG given he's no certainty of playing at the SCG tomorrow.

"I just find it bitterly disappointing that a guy can't play in a fixture for us, which is a big fixture for us, when he's sitting in a hotel room," the former England star said.

"I'm really disappointed. I'm working with him on a personal level to improve his game so that he can benefit Australian cricket, which he could do on Sunday, if we spend more time together, but he's not going to be here."

But Zampa, who along with Stoinis was released for Melbourne's game last Tuesday before linking up with Australia's squad in Perth, said international selection always comes first.

"Obviously the priority is to play for your country," Zampa said in Sydney today. "The players are used to it by now. It's happened for the last six BBLs.

"Obviously there were the comments yesterday about Stoiny not being released, but they obviously see that he's a chance now to play in Sydney which is great for Marcus.

"And it's great for myself to maybe have that chance in both Sydney and Adelaide (for the fifth ODI on Thursday).

"That's the way it goes. Thankfully Cricket Australia released me last game and I got a little bit of game time.

"I'll definitely be watching. I love the Melbourne Stars and I'll be watching very closely."

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Pietersen said the decision to not release Stoinis for tonight's match was "bitterly disappointing", while he also called for Cricket Australia to create a window in their international schedule in the future to allow the country's best white-ball players play in the BBL.

While Zampa said he relished the chance to play for the Stars, one-day international cricket had always had a home in January and finding a gap in an already packed schedule would be difficult.

"Ever since I've been a kid the one-dayers have always been at the same time of year," Zampa said.

"I remember coming to watch one-dayers at the SCG with my mum and dad at the exact same time of year.

"So I don't know how they're going to fix the scheduling. It's the Australian summer and we need to fit in some Australian cricket."

It's been a difficult start to 2017 for Zampa, who has been left out of the first three games of the ODI series and was also overlooked for Australia's Test tour of India.

The 24-year-old has never made an Australian Test squad but said he was ready to handle to step up to the highest level. However, he was overlooked in favour of fellow uncapped leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson.

While Zampa's Test dreams are on hold for now, he has his sights set on a return to the ODI side for the final two matches against Pakistan, and then some silverware with South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.

"It is what it is, there's not much you can really do about it," he said of missing out on the squad for the Indian tour.

"The selectors have gone with a more attacking option, which is disappointing for me but it gives me something I can work on. It's nice to get some feedback sometimes

"I'm looking forward to hopefully winning the Shield now with the Redbacks.

"I'd say I'm a chance (to play against Pakistan in Sydney) with the conditions probably suiting me more than other grounds around Australia.

"It's been disappointing not to play the first three games, I really want to play. But it's nice to come to Sydney and Adelaide for the last two games."