Essex recruit Adam Zampa for Natwest T20 Blast

The current County Champions, Essex have signed Australian legspinner Adam Zampa for the entirety of the Natwest T20 Blast. The news was confirmed on the club’s official website on Tuesday (February 6). The leg-break bowler is due to join from July 1 and will be available for the business end of Blast in September should Essex progress.

Despite being one of the best limited-overs outfits in the country over the past five years, Essex has struggled to lift the trophy in the shortest format. They have failed to progress the quarter-final stages of the tournament in each of the last four seasons. And new Head Coach Anthony McGrath is keen to have a proper crack at the tournament this year.

Thus, in a bid to justify their ambition, Essex have brought in Zampa. The 25-year-old is one of the highly rated spinners in world T20 cricket and a limited-overs specialist. He has successfully plied his trade all across the globe in various T20 leagues. Zampa also boasts of incredible T20 stats; 86 wickets from 74 matches at an economy rate of just over 7 runs an over.

Thus, with umpteen experience under his belt, Zampa brings in a wealth experience in the shorter format and will be a pivotal addition to the Essex squad.

Head coach Anthony McGrath speaks about Zampa’s addition

According to Cricbuzz, McGrath said, “I have been keeping tabs on Adam for a while. He has the ability to spin the ball both ways and that mystery in the middle overs is something that we have been missing from our T20 side.”

He added, “Adam has done excellently in the Big Bash and IPL and has also featured regularly in white-ball cricket for Australia, so we know we are bringing in someone of International quality.

“We have done our homework and leg-spin makes a real difference in T20 cricket around the world, but you don’t want to just bring in any legspinner. Adam is one of the best around at the moment and it is another outstanding signing for the Club.”