'Underestimated' Zampa spins his way to cusp of history

With a chip on his shoulder, Adam Zampa stands on the verge of completing what could go down as one of the best World Cup performances by any Australian spin bowler in history.

The 29-year-old leg-spinner hasn't yet re-produced the heroics of ODI World Cup-winning tweakers Shane Warne or Brad Hogg.

But his contribution will likely be viewed as every bit as helpful to Australia's cause if they are to take out the Twenty20 World Cup for the first time.

Only New Zealand – the opponents in Monday morning's (AEDT) final – still stand in the way.

Zampa's average (10.91) over six matches in the UAE is the lowest of all specialist Australian spinners in either format at World Cups and he boasts the lowest economy rate (5.69) in the shorter version.

He has claimed more wickets (12) than any Australian spinner at a T20 World Cup and boasts the best strike rate (11.5) by a long way in either format.

In the UAE, Zampa has outdone vaunted pace trio Mitchell Starc (nine), Josh Hazlewood (eight) and Pat Cummins (five) in claiming the most wickets by an Australia bowler.

It's a phenomenal return for a player who was effectively cut off from his teammates for large parts of their World Cup preparation, stuck at home in Byron Bay bowling to local teenagers to stay sharp during the pandemic.

"I've always been underestimated," Zampa said.

"Even as a 15 or 16-year-old growing up in the country, there was always a city guy that's better than me or there's always been someone that turns their leg-spinner more than I do.

"Even after this tournament, there'll be another series that comes up and I'll be underestimated again.

"I do thrive off that."

Zampa – described as "a bit different" by coach Justin Langer – puts much of his recent success down to knowing his strengths and being himself, as well as nailing some simple yet effective technical aspects of his delivery.

They're the little things, like maintaining short strides on his run-in, which he says help him put pace and spin on the ball.

Zampa, who has 56 T20 international matches to his name, stunned Bangladesh with a career-best 5-19 in a crucial win for Australia during the Super 12 stage and was at his economical best in claiming 1-22 against Pakistan in the semi-final.

"He's been brilliant," teammate Marcus Stoinis said.

"He was brilliant (in the semi-final) and took complete control of his four overs and of the innings at that stage where (Pakistan) were going really well.

"The great thing about Zamps is he's super honest.

"He took his five wickets the other night and he felt like he didn't bowl well.

"That's a quality of a good player, when you're picking apart your own game and you understand exactly what you're doing."

2021 Men's T20 World Cup

Australia's squad

Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (vc), Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserves: Dan Christian, Nathan Ellis, Daniel Sams

Oct 23: Australia beat South Africa by five wickets

Oct 28: Australia beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets

Oct 30: England beat Australia by eight wickets

Nov 4: Australia beat Bangladesh by eight wickets

Nov 6: Australia beat West Indies by eight wickets

Semi-finals

Nov 10: New Zealand beat England by five wickets

Nov 11: Australia beat Pakistan by five wickets

Final

Nov 14: New Zealand v Australia, Dubai (6pm local, 1am Nov 15 AEDT)

All matches live and exclusive on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo Sports.

Click here for the full 2021 ICC T20 World Cup schedule

Click here for the full squads for all 16 teams

Super 12 stage

Group 1: England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh

Group 2: India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Scotland, Namibia