ICC World Cup 2019 | Nathan Lyon and I can play a huge role, says Adam Zampa

Australia will be outside contenders to defend their title and beat favorites - England and India - at the upcoming 2019 ICC ODI World Cup which is scheduled to start on May 30. Justin Langer’s boys will be boosted with the return of David Warner and Steven Smith to the 15-man squad who have already touched down in England.

Australia spinner Adam Zampa has been included in the Aussie team along with senior Nathan Lyon who has mainly featured in the Test squad. Zampa, who has previously played T20 cricket for Essex in England, is of the opinion that the two spinners in the Australian squad will have a huge role to play in the fast-approaching global showpiece.

"It's definitely going to play a role with the smaller grounds. I think the way we have been playing lately, we've been loading up a little bit towards the back end, so to have those wickets in hand is really important. So I guess stopping the spinners from getting wickets in the middle overs is really important and obviously vice versa for us, for me and Nath to bowl well.

"I love playing with Nath. We play two different roles. He's so accurate, beautiful offspinner. Bowls to his field really well, bowls really tight, and it means I can attack from the other end. So I really, really like bowling with 'Gaz'. I think it's going to play a huge role for us sometime throughout the World Cup. I don't know if it will be every game but I definitely see us playing a huge role together," Zampa said in a recent interview with ESPNCricinfo.

The former Rising Pune Supergiants cricketer believes he has been given the licence to attack during the middle overs under captain Aaron Finch. The young spinner added that he looks up to Adil Rashid from England as one of his role model’s in the modern game.

"Adil Rashid is someone that, you know, I could almost base my career around his. He's been in and out of the team when he was a lot younger, he's probably a little bit of a different bowler than I am but England have really backed him in. From looking from afar they've almost said to him, 'you're playing every game for the next couple of years until the World Cup is over.' So he goes 1 for 80, 3 for 80, he's a genuine wicket-taker for England and he's probably had some ups and downs in his career too, but he's someone I've really enjoyed watching bowl and he's had a lot of success in England," Zampa added.