Zampa extends Stars stay as 'burning desire' remains

While this summer shapes as one of the busiest in Adam Zampa's career, the Australian spinner still has one eye on the Big Bash where he says he has "unfinished business" with the Melbourne Stars.

The nation's premier white-ball spinner was already contracted for KFC BBL|12 but the Stars have been quick to lock him away for another two years until at least the end of BBL|14.

Zampa, who is today celebrating his first Father's Day, is still yet to taste Big Bash success in his 10 seasons in the competition, the last seven of which have been at the Stars.

"I've been at the Stars for quite a long time now, so I definitely call it home," said Zampa, who played one season with Sydney Thunder and two with Adelaide Strikers before switching to the Stars.

"There's quite a bit of unfinished business – we're yet to win the title so there's still that bit of burning desire left for quite a few of us at the club."

Since joining the Stars ahead of the 2015-16 season, Zampa has established himself as Australia's first-choice slow bowler in both white-ball formats.

The leg-spinner has 82 wickets in 67 matches for the club and was widely regarded as Australia's best bowler during their maiden T20 World Cup triumph in the UAE last year.

He has just returned to the field after missing the tour of Sri Lanka in June due to the birth of his first child, Eugene, and collected three wickets apiece in each of the first two ODIs against Zimbabwe in Townsville as Australia ramp up their preparations for the T20 World Cup in October-November.

"There's a lot of cricket coming up and the World Cup is before (the Big Bash)," the 30-year-old told cricket.com.au in Townsville.

"It probably wasn't my best first game, after not playing a lot of cricket for a while it does feel quite alien to be honest so it was nice to get a few overs under the belt and I felt better (in the second match).

"But I always love (the BBL). The competition this year with some big names coming in, (including) Trent Boult in our team, it's going to be really exciting.

"The experience that he'll bring, he knows what he's doing and just having big names like that in the competition is only going to be positive for the BBL."

Zampa is one of the BBL's genuine superstars – he is the competition's all-time leading spin bowler, just two shy of 100 wickets in his Big Bash career – and often takes on the responsibility of bowling the clutch overs for the Stars.

He has become a mainstay of both Australia’s white-ball sides over the past three years – apart from the recent five-match Sri Lanka tour, he hasn't missed a one-day international since the 2019 World Cup and has 71 T20 international wickets from 62 matches at a superb economy rate of 6.79.

Stars coach David Hussey said after waiting for his turn at international level, his hard work and dedication was being rewarded.

"Adam has been nothing short of outstanding in working on his leg-spin craft," said Hussey.

"He is a key senior member of the Melbourne Stars, as well as his talent with the ball, he also brings tremendous leadership for those with less experience among the group."

Zampa's signature comes after Stars skipper Glenn Maxwell signed a four-year extension in February this year with the club also picking up New Zealand ace Boult and English pair Joe Clarke and Luke Wood in last Sunday's BBL|12 Draft.

After Billy Stanlake was released last week to join Hobart Hurricanes, the Stars still have four spots to fill on their roster for BBL|12 where they open the tournament against the Thunder in Canberra on December 13.

Melbourne Stars BBL|12 squad (so far): Trent Boult (New Zealand), Joe Burns, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke (England), Brody Couch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster, Luke Wood (England), Adam Zampa.