Adam Zampa sits out the One‑Day Cup final, giving a spot to leading wicket‑taker Tanveer Sangha as NSW chase the Dean Jones Trophy.
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Adam Zampa decided to sit out the One‑Day Cup final for New South Wales, giving the spot to Tanveer Sangha – the tournament’s leading wicket‑taker with 18 wickets at 18.05.
Zampa’s only NSW game this season was the same match where he bowled alongside Sangha against Tasmania, so he knew the chemistry.
“I’m keen to play, but I don’t want my presence to hurt Tanveer’s chances,” he told chief performance officer Greg Mail. Takeaway: A selfless call can keep a rising star on track.
The match is set at Bellerive Oval, a day‑night fixture in Hobart. The coaches figured two leg‑spinners on a pitch that favors pace would be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, so Zampa stepped aside.
He said he’d rather roll with the punches and let the youngster keep his place. Takeaway: Sometimes the best way to win is to let the hot hand stay hot.
New South Wales still has a full‑throttle pace attack. Sean Abbott, fresh from a Sheffield Shield win over South Australia, and Ben Dwarshuis are expected to shoulder the bowling load, while captain Jack Edwards remains out with a hamstring niggle.
Tasmania, which earned the right to host by winning its first five games, will counter with Nathan Ellis and Matt Kuhnemann anchoring its attack. Takeaway: A strong seam brigade can offset the loss of a spinner.
The final, which crowns the Dean Jones Trophy, was bumped from Feb 28 to give Tasmania a home game and to avoid a clash with the women’s ODIs against India.
The rescheduling means both sides will play under lights, adding a bit of drama to an already tense showdown. Takeaway: A schedule shuffle can create a fresh battlefield.
NSW squad for the final
Kurtis Patterson (c), Sean Abbott, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Sam Konstas, Josh Philippe, William Salzmann, Lachlan Shaw, Tanveer Sangha.
Overall, Zampa’s choice to step back is a classic “hit the nail on the head” move – he puts the team’s long‑term interests ahead of his own short‑term glory, and that can be the difference between a good season and a great one.
Quick‑Quiz
| Question |
|---|
| Why did Adam Zampa withdraw from the final? |
| How many wickets does Tanveer Sangha have and at what average? |
| Which two fast bowlers are expected to lead NSW’s pace attack in the final? |