Overview:
In contrast to the red-ball game, where Australia and a select few usually set the benchmark, the 20-over format rarely allows one team to run away with it.
Adam Zampa has rejected suggestions that Australia place greater importance on Test cricket than on the shortest format after their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 journey ended on February 20. Although Australia secured wins over Oman and Ireland, defeats to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe prevented them from progressing beyond the group stage, marking their first early exit in the tournament since 2009. Batting collapses and an inability to take timely wickets proved costly during the campaign.
Since the 2024 T20 World Cup, Australia competed in eight T20I series, emerging victorious in five, losing two, and drawing one. Despite the solid record, their underwhelming performance in the current edition triggered debate among fans online, with some arguing that the team prioritises the longer format of the game.
Zampa, however, dismissed those claims while speaking after the victory against Oman. He stressed that the perception of Australia favouring Test cricket is incorrect and maintained that the team’s leadership invests substantial effort into preparing for the shortest format.
“That’s completely false. The amount of effort the coaches and support staff put into shaping our T20 plans, deciding roles, strategies and overall preparation is at least equal to what goes into Test cricket. It might even be more, to be honest. In white ball formats, especially T20s, the competition is extremely close and every team is evenly matched. In Test cricket, Australia and a couple of other leading sides tend to be more dominant, so the margin is not as tight. But in this format, things are far more competitive and that demands extra attention and planning,” Adam Zampa said.
Zampa pointed out that in T20 cricket, the playing field is far more level. In contrast to the red-ball game, where Australia and a select few usually set the benchmark, the 20-over format rarely allows one team to run away with it.
“The effort is absolutely there. I think part of the issue is that the Australian public does not see a lot of our white ball cricket. During the home summer, we might only play three to six matches, and much of our preparation and games take place overseas, often outside Australian time zones. Because of that, people do not always get to witness how we build toward these World Cups. We have actually played some very strong cricket leading into this tournament, which makes the way it has ended even more disappointing. But in terms of commitment and preparation, the time and energy we invest are just as significant as in any other format,” he added.