‘On a roll’: Cummins praised after wild World Cup claims

Zampa, who took four wickets despite suffering pre-game back spasms, scoffed at pre-game talk from former skipper Michael Clarke that Cummins was going to be dropped for the must-win clash against Sri Lanka and said the players “back each other 100 per cent” to win the tournament.

While Zampa was the hero with the ball, it was Cummins who broke an unbeaten 125-run opening stand by Sri Lanka in Lucknow, removing both the openers to spark a collapse of 9-54, including a run-out by the skipper.

Amid speculation about Cummins’ position after a lacklustre start to the World Cup as both a bowler and a captain, Zampa said there was “no pressure” on the skipper and he “led from the front”.

“We all back each other 100 per cent in this team, so I don’t really know what’s been said or what people are reading, but the only thing that I saw come on the WhatsApp group was same 11 as last game,” Zampa said when asked about Clarke’s suggestion.

“There’s no pressure on Pat there. As I said, we’ve got a really good feeling in the group in terms of backing each other, looking after each other.

“And then Pat (Cummins), he kind of led from the front. His spell changed the momentum of the game. And then same as in the field, that run-out, those little things can turn scores from 210 to 260 and it’s game on. So, he particularly led from the front.”

Zampa conceded the Aussies were “flat” after losing to India and Pakistan but rallied with their backs to the wall and would charge headlong into the next contest with Pakistan, another must-win match, with renewed confidence in his own bowling and in the team.

“After the first two games there’s definitely a flat feeling in the change rooms. We all know that I think you could probably go from 1 to 11 and say we all could do our roles a little bit better,” he said.

“But we know, as Boss (Mitch Marsh) said the other day, we get backed into a corner and guys step up and we get on a roll, then anything can happen. It’s a World Cup, so get on a roll.

“Obviously, really big game against Pakistan in Bangalore, and if we can put it all together and play a good game there, you go two and two and the feeling’s much better.”

On a turbulent night impacted by rain and dust storms, which forced play to be stopped when hoardings fell into stands near spectators at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Zampa said it impacted the players as well.

“I‘ve never been a part of that. Never seen anything like that,” he said.

“Quite lucky that there was no one harmed hopefully because that metal pole coming down could have seriously hurt someone, so never seen anything like that, and then the dust and the windstorm was straight into the goggles.”

Australia will play Pakistan in Bengaluru on Friday.

Originally published as Adam Zampa praises captain Pat Cummins after dropping calls