Adam Zampa targets peak form for Australia's 2027 World Cup defence
Zampa says the three-match one-day series against England, starting Nov. 13 in Perth, matters after Australia's uneven recent one-day results.
Australia spinner Adam Zampa has outlined his plans to be in top form for the 2027 World Cup title defence, beginning with a one-day series against England, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.
Australia's recent one-day form has been inconsistent, with series wins over Bangladesh and Zimbabwe offset by losses to South Africa and Pakistan.
The 34-year-old leg-spinner took 23 wickets at the 2023 World Cup in India, the most by any spinner, and was later named in the ICC Team of the Tournament.
Zampa told AAP that the England series is important because the team has had an uneven one-day preparation with changing squads.
"We just haven't played to the best of our ability," he said.
He said the eight matches against England, three one-day internationals and five Twenty20 internationals, will help the team form batting and bowling combinations, since there is little white-ball cricket until later in 2027.
The World Cup in South Africa and Zimbabwe begins for Australia against India on Oct. 7, and Zampa said he has always found some South African venues difficult.
He said a series in South Africa in September helped him work out his approach there.
"I have been proud of how I perform in World Cups and make sure that I am purring for those," Zampa said.
He said he would work hard physically and mentally to be ready, pointing to a T20 series in Darwin and a three-match one-day series in Zimbabwe before the tournament.
The first one-day match is in Perth on Nov. 13, followed by Adelaide on Nov. 15 and Hobart on Nov. 18, with the T20 series running from Nov. 21 at the MCG to Dec. 2 at Manuka Oval.
Zampa will also switch from the Melbourne Renegades to the Hobart Hurricanes this season, citing his friendships with teammates and a good relationship with coach Jeff Vaughan from his time at South Australia.
He said he expects to play the Big Bash and then take time off before looking at white-ball tournaments next year, probably including the Pakistan Super League and The Hundred, depending on availability.