Adam Zampa's bizarre injury ahead of Australia's World Cup opener
The spinner will be vital to Australia's chances of winning the World Cup in India.
Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa has sustained a cut across his face after hurting himself swimming in the hotel pool only 24 hours before the opening cricket match against India. The Aussies will take on host nation India to start their respective One Day International World Cup campaigns.
Zampa is expected to be integral to Australia's hopes of lifting the trophy in India with mammoth scores posted across the first few days of the tournament. South Africa's 5-428 is an example of how spin will need to be utilised.
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However, Zampa has slightly hurt himself after swimming face first into the pool wall at the hotel. Captain Pat Cummins addressed the injury after Zampa was seen with cuts on his face during training.
“He swam into the pool wall apparently, he said,” Cummins said with a laugh. “He had his eyes closed and thought he was swimming in a straight line and swam straight into the step of the pool.
“He’s all good, just a little bit sore, so had a pretty quiet week too.” Zampa is a certainty to line-up against India in Chennai.
Adam Zampa hurt himself while swimming with closed eyes, he crashed with swimming pool steps. pic.twitter.com/f3cxwdfnYL
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 7, 2023
Adam Zampa hit the swimming pool wall in Chennai to get his face injured. Marcus Stoinis also unlikely against India due to hamstring. pic.twitter.com/QoXkpCEyt4
— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) October 7, 2023
Marcus Stoinis a doubt for Aussie World Cup opener
Zampa's minor injury comes as Marcus Stoinis remains a doubt for the first match as Cummins confirmed the team list won't be named until after the toss. Stoinis has been struggling with a hamstring injury ahead of arriving in India.
He missed Australia's last four warm-up matches and Cummins admitted he was 'touch and go' ahead of the clash against India.
“He‘s going to have a run out this afternoon, but he’s probably up against it,” Cummins told reporters on Saturday. “He’s got to jump through a few hoops. We’ll see.”
Australia went with a heavy allrounder squad and Stoinis' absence could see Cameron Green enter the team. Green could bat at No.7. “In one-day cricket, more than any of the other formats, you need all-rounders, you‘ve got to try and find 50 overs,” Cummins added. “They‘re like gold.”
In a huge turn of events, coach Andrew McDonald has already labelled Marnus Labuschagne a 'lock' in the middle order.
This comes as the batter was dropped from the white-ball squad ahead of the South Africa tour, only to be brought back in due to Steve Smith's injury. Labuschagne has since made himself near undroppable with his form.
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