The sting of Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 elimination continues to reverberate, with fingers pointing at an alleged overemphasis on Test cricket. Veteran spinner Adam Zampa pushed back hard, insisting that short-form formats dominate the team’s preparation calendar.
‘The notion that we favor Tests is utterly misguided,’ Zampa declared from New Delhi. He revealed that coaching sessions tilt heavily toward T20 tactics, outpacing time allocated to longer formats by a wide margin.
Delving into the reasons, Zampa noted T20’s unforgiving competitiveness. ‘Coaches and staff pour endless hours into T20 strategies because it’s the most demanding format—far more than Tests or one-dayers,’ he said. This focus stems from the need to adapt to its blistering pace and tactical depth.
A key issue, according to Zampa, is limited visibility for home fans. Australia’s T20 calendar is laden with away fixtures—typically 3-6 matches during summer—scheduled around rival nations’ preferences. ‘Our domestic audience doesn’t see how rigorously we prep for events like the World Cup,’ he explained, bridging the gap between perception and reality.
Placed in Group B with Zimbabwe, Ireland, Sri Lanka, and Oman, Australia stumbled against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, sealing their fate. Yet, they ended on a high, thrashing Oman on Friday thanks to Zampa’s match-winning 4/xx spell, clinching Player of the Match.
Acknowledging the setback, Zampa affirmed, ‘We’ve delivered top-tier cricket this tournament. The first-round exit is frustrating, but our T20 investment remains rock-solid.’ His words challenge narratives of neglect, signaling Australia’s resolve to reclaim T20 glory.