Zampa ready for Black Caps challenge

He's only 23, but confident leg-spinner Adam Zampa insists he is ready to tackle the opportunity he's been given by national selectors for Australia's one-day international series in New Zealand next month following some advice from some influential cricketing figures.

Zampa took 12 wickets in BBL|05 – including two in last night's final – and the Melbourne Stars recruit insists the move to Victoria's capital, and the leaders he played under there, have reinvigorated his game.

The National Selection Panel announced its 14-man squad for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy this morning and Zampa was the surprise inclusion ahead of Test spinner Nathan Lyon, largely owing to his impressive form in the KFC Big Bash League.

"The Melbourne Stars has been so good for me," Zampa told cricket.com.au, having travelled east from Adelaide for this summer's tournament after a successful stint at the Strikers.

"It's really been one of the best six-week periods I've had. It's just been so relaxed.

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"'KP' (Kevin Pietersen) has been a great person to speak to, (coach) Stephen Fleming is great as well, so calm and relaxed, and (captain) David Hussey has been good for me – he's one of the better players of spin in the country and I never like bowling to him when I have to, so to listen to what he's had to say has really helped my bowling."

Zampa, who has played 25 domestic one-day matches and averages 33 with the ball, has happily listened to the advice of Pietersen, who famously waged war with Shane Warne throughout the early stages of his glittering Test career.

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"He faced a lot of Warnie early in his career so he had a lot of ideas about where to bowl tactically, things like that," Zampa said. "He's been really good, and he's obviously one of the better players of leg-spin going around, so he's a good one to listen to.

"And after the semi-final against the Scorchers I spoke to Warnie as well.

"He came into the sheds and we had a chat about a couple of things. It wasn't too much technical, but a lot of tactical stuff.

"He gave me some ideas about where on the crease I should bowl and a few other things – he was really good.

"I didn't have a chance to apply it in the final because there was no training beforehand, but I'll definitely be trying to apply it now for Australia."

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National selector Rod Marsh today conceded that Zampa and fellow leg-spinner Cameron Boyce, who has been selected for the forthcoming T20 series against India – were effectively in a straight shootout for a World T20 berth.

"I knew I might have been close with Boyce for the Twenty20 squad (against India) here, so that was, not a kick in the butt because I'm young and I don't want to be too impatient for it, but I do think I'm ready for it," Zampa explained.

"I've shown in the last couple of domestic one-day comps, and in the last couple of Big Bashes as well, that I can perform.

"And then last night (in the BBL final) I showed that I want the ball in the difficult situations; I'm not really fazed by too much."

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Zampa took 2-32 in the final including the key wickets of Jacques Kallis and Mike Hussey, with the leg-spinner bowling a flatter trajectory in the shorter form to successfully combat the constant aggression of T20 batsmen.

"I've probably done that without even noticing … it probably comes with getting a little bit bigger and stronger, but I also don't like throwing too many up, especially playing half my games at the MCG – it's quite short straight down the ground, so into the wicket is usually the tactic," he said.

"(For Australia) I'll probably try to do what I've been doing in the Matador Cup and the Big Bash, which is hit the stumps, pretty much; the more times you hit the stumps, the harder it is for them to score runs.

"So I'll be applying that for Australia."

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With a handy 15 from 10 deliveries at the back-end of the innings in the BBL final, Zampa also offered a timely reminder of his all-round potential; he averages 25 in first-class and List A cricket.

"I'm just elated about being on this tour. Hopefully I get an opportunity and then I take it when I do," he added. "There's probably more to it than bowling leg-spin as well – I want to get over there and be good around the group as well, so I'm really looking forward to it.

"It was nice to contribute a little bit with the bat in the final, I've felt like I've been a little disappointing there in T20 cricket.

"But in one-day cricket I've managed to play a couple of match-winning knocks for Australia A and the Redbacks, and in Shield cricket too, so I've definitely showed my capability there.

"I've batted as high as six or seven – at the Redbacks I get an opportunity to almost play as an allrounder and showcase those skills."