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The 34-year-old has spent 10 years playing one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches for Australia and has been a vital member of the squad.<\/p>\n
“He’s come through the same sort of pathways as kids here,” Melville said.<\/p>\n
“From regional academy cricket to zone teams, then NSW Country, grade cricket in Sydney and on to the professional ranks.<\/p>\n
“I always try to get a good young batter and a keeper in there against him,” he said. “The kids get a huge amount out of it, and to be honest, so do I.<\/p>\n
“I’ll take photos, look at his action and give him a bit of feedback. I’m a Level 2 coach, so I’ll talk to him about things like his elbow and shoulder position. He doesn’t rely on me, but it’s a great experience.”<\/p>\n
For Melville, the relationship has been a unique privilege and one that continues to benefit the local cricket community.<\/p>\n
Zampa often trains quietly at local grounds with clubs impressed with his approach to helping junior players.<\/p>\n
“He’ll go down to the nets, take his spikes off and give them to kids,” Melville said.<\/p>\n
“He doesn’t have to do it, but he does.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AUSTRALIAN leg spinner Adam Zampa is helping develop grassroots cricket on the Far North Coast after linking up with the Ballina Bears cricket club. Zampa lives locally and regularly supports club and school cricket when he is not competing on the international stage, quietly working with young players across the region. He recently donated a […]<\/p>\n