Zampa ready to rise to Aussie ODI call

Australia start their five-match ODI series in South Africa without three of their key fast bowlers and spinner Adam Zampa is ready to step into the breach.

Australia's Adam Zampa

Adam Zampa admits his confidence is growing heading into Australia's one-day series in South Africa. (AAP)

Legspinner Adam Zampa is on top of the world and admits his confidence is growing heading into Australia's one-day series in South Africa.

The 24-year-old began his tour with 3-37 in a comfortable nine-wicket win over Ireland on Tuesday.

That haul means since his debut against New Zealand in February, Zampa has claimed 25 scalps at an impressive average of 22.

It's a tally no other bowler has bettered in 2016.

"I'm a lot more confident to bowl my variations and I know my role a lot better now," Zampa said ahead of Friday's series opener against the Proteas at Centurion.

"Obviously I feel a little bit more secure in the team than what you do when you're playing in your first and second games.

"I'm a little bit more confident than what I was in February."

Zampa's confidence will be welcomed by captain Steve Smith, who has been denied three of his key strike weapons for the five-match campaign.

Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner have all been left at home and, while the hosts have lost captain AB de Villiers to an elbow injury, they still boast a powerful batting lineup including Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock.

South Australia's Dan Worrall made his debut against the Irish, while uncapped Joe Mennie and Chris Tremain are the others pushing to fill the void left by Starc, Hazlewood and Faulkner's absence.

Zampa himself is confident he can take on a more important role in the lineup if called upon by Smith.

"The variations are coming out nicely," he said.

"That's going to be important over here. I think you might actually see some slower wickets than what we're used to over here as well.

"I'm going to have to play a pretty important role.

"The good thing lately is we've had early wickets to play with all the time. That's made my role a lot easier as well.

"If the roles are reversed and they're one or two down I'm expecting them to come out pretty hard, especially with the atmosphere here and the small grounds.

"It's going to be a new challenge."


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Source: AAP



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