It can sometimes be difficult to get athletes to divert from the ‘team effort’ narrative and single out players who are facing lofty expectations.
But when three Aussie squad members were posed the question of who looms as their most important player entering the World Cup, all three didn’t hesitate in responding swiftly with the same answer.
“If you look across our past two World Cup wins, in 2021 and the last (50-over) World Cup (in 2023), Adam Zampa has been by far our most important player,” Australian skipper Mitch Marsh told The West Australian.
“Every challenge that is thrown his way, he just loves it. We’re absolutely blessed to have him and I’ve got no doubt he’s going to be a big player for us.”
Having been Australia’s leading wicket-taker at the two most recent T20 World Cups, Zampa will again be a defining player with ball in hand on a string of Caribbean wickets that are expected to provide plenty of turn in the middle overs.
“We’ve seen how big a role he’s played for this team, and in the Caribbean, we’re going to see wickets changing a lot,” middle-order finisher Tim David said of Zampa.
“There’s going to be a real importance on spin, wickets playing up and down, and we’re playing games at 7.30 at night and 10am so we’re going to have different conditions.
“I’m picking him for a big tournament, and our whole squad believes in him.”
Zampa is also looking to benefit from being rested both physically and mentally, approaching the tournament in fresh condition having opting out of the recently-completed Indian Premier League season due to feeling “completely drained” off the back of a hectic schedule.
“He’s been so big for us in all the tournaments over the past few years, and he’s had a lot of time off and he’s coming in fresh,” reserve paceman Nathan Ellis said.
“Hopefully there’ll be some spin-condition wickets. He’s a guy who always stands up in the big games.”
Chris Robinson travelled to Trinidad & Tobago as a guest of Prime Video, which is broadcasting the T20 World Cup.