Adam Zampa, an Australian leg-spinner, will begin a new chapter in his domestic career when he plays for Queensland in the 2026–2027 season. His availability for the Brisbane Heat in the forthcoming Big Bash League (BBL) is still up in the air, though, since the league is still operating under a contracting embargo while it finalises its player contracting regulations for the 2017 season.
Due to Australia’s busy international schedule and his commitments in franchise leagues across the globe, Zampa, who has a central contract with Cricket Australia (CA), has made few appearances in domestic cricket in recent years. After seven seasons with South Australia, he returned to New South Wales (NSW) in 2020, where his availability became an issue.
The 34-year-old last played for NSW in a Sheffield Shield game in 2024, a decision that caused controversy in the state system. Current head coach Brad Haddin questioned the decision, while NSW selector Stuart Clark asserted that Cricket Australia had pressed for Zampa’s participation against state selectors’ objections. In the 2025 One-Day Cup, Zampa made his most recent List A appearance for NSW. He was commended for standing away in later games to give rookie leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha more chances.
Centrally contracted players are allowed to change states with CA’s consent under Cricket Australia regulations.
Zampa’s decision is comparable to that of Jake Weatherald, who moved to South Australia earlier this year from Tasmania.
Zampa’s availability at the beginning of the domestic season is probably going to be restricted, even though he joined Queensland. The first rounds of the domestic competitions coincide with Australia’s ODI tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe in September, and a white-ball series against England in November may further limit his appearances.
His future in BBL is likewise uncertain. Zampa, who has played for the Sydney Thunder, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades, and Melbourne Stars, does not currently have a contract for the 2026–2027 campaign. He might play in the SA20 following the BBL if given a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which might prevent him from competing in the One-Day Cup’s later stages.
In the meanwhile, it is anticipated that the BBL will abandon its 2026–2027 overseas player draft. In response to persistent concerns among Australian players regarding the league’s current wage structure, the proposed reform would enable franchises to devote a larger share of their salary cap towards attracting and keeping local talent.
