Zampa not banking on Cup role just yet

Adam Zampa is finally feeling settled as the World Cup he's eyed off for months grows ever closer, but the leg-spinner knows better than anyone that nothing is assured.

Zampa emerged from Australia's unlikely comeback series triumph in India as one of the side's brightest lights, finishing second only to star quick Pat Cummins among the five-match campaign's leading wicket takers.

Yet as Australia embark on a final tune-up in the UAE before the World Cup, Zampa is tempering a growing confidence of his role and place in the side with an awareness that assuming the latter is dangerous.

The South Australian's three years in the international spotlight have featured periods of success, spells on the outer and even the side's flirtation with the possibility his craft might not be a necessity for the 50-over game.

"Throughout my short career I've found it can change really quickly," Zampa said on Tuesday ahead of the tourists' first training session on tour in Sharjah.

"I started my career really well, but I've had some ups and downs.

"So trying to build on the momentum I have would be great - I know what it's like to be in and out of the team and be dropped from the squad altogether.

"(I'm) just trying to make the most of my position at the moment … I guess taking it one series at a time - it's a bit of a cliché, but that's how it is."

Australia won the World Cup in 2015 without a specialist spinner. Four years on, few believe this year's winner could do the same.

Five of the International Cricket Council's top 10 ranked ODI bowlers are wrist-spinners. Australia's selection chief Trevor Hohns acknowledged as much recently, insisting "we can't bury our heads in the sand" to the role of spin in 50-over cricket and flagged they're increasingly open to off-spinner Nathan Lyon partnering Zampa in the same XI.

Teammates were far from oblivious to Zampa's strong showing in India; captain Aaron Finch singled him out for praise despite a wicketless, but frugal, performance in Australia's second T20I win over India, while Shaun Marsh credited his pinpoint accuracy for his 11-wicket campaign in the ODIs.

"He’s improved out of sight and I was really stoked for him," Marsh said of Zampa. "Our bowling is going really well at the moment and they’ll play a big part in this series.

"It’s just his control now, he’s a bit more mature. He’s got a bit more of an understanding of what he’s trying to do out there.

"I thought he did a fantastic job in all the games (in India) and he took wickets at key times. He’s going to be a big part of this team moving forward."

While Zampa has learnt the hard way nothing is guaranteed, he's tentatively becoming more confident that he belongs at the top level.

"I'm obviously happy with how they came out in the Indian series,” he said. “It's nice to try and make an impact, especially through the middle overs.

"After that series I feel really confident about my role in the team.

"I feel as though the first couple of games I wasn't at my best, but to get the wickets on the board built my confidence up a little bit.

"So I feel like - particularly the last game, it was probably the best I bowled. I’m feeling confident at the moment."

Qantas Tour of the UAE

First ODI: v Pakistan, March 22 in Sharjah

Second ODI: v Pakistan, March 24 in Sharjah

Third ODI: v Pakistan, March 27 in Abu Dhabi

Fourth ODI: v Pakistan, March 29 in Dubai

Fifth ODI: v Pakistan, March 31 in Dubai

(all matches begin at 10pm AEDT)