Zampa tipped to partner Lyon at World T20
Former Australia coach Mickey Arthur says leg-spinner Adam Zampa would be a great choice for the World Twenty20, and if he were still the coach, he'd add the Melbourne Stars leggie to the side.
Zampa found fame recently with his run out in the Big Bash League, when the ball deflected off his face and onto the stumps, but his bowling has been impressive too. He's taken nine wickets in seven games, but Arthur feels the variety he provides is even more valuable.
When asked who he'd pick as a spinner, Arthur told Macquarie Radio: "You need to pick up wickets (in the middle overs) in the subcontinent and your wrist spinner has got the best chance of doing that.
"So I've gone for a wrist spinner, I've picked Adam Zampa.
"I think Nathan Lyon is going to play a key role as well. You want another spinner as well, particularly to bowl to left-handers. A lot of international sides now have left-handers and I think Nathan Lyon is the best off-spinner in the country."
As for batsmen, Arthur singled out Adelaide Strikers' Travis Head, who has been impressive in the BBL, but the coach said he'd give Head a skip this time, as the tournament was in India, not Australia.
The South African added: "If the T20 World Cup was in Australia, Travis Head definitely comes to mind.
"(But) I've just gone for a little bit of experience through the middle order, particularly in India.
"George Bailey has played a lot of cricket there and he's played it well. And experienced heads win you Twenty20 competitions.
"Travis Head's time will come; certainly at the next Twenty20 World Cup I expect him to play an integral role.
"Watson … George Bailey, Steven Smith, David Warner, Aaron Finch – (they are) all experienced batsmen who have played in India a hell of a lot."
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