Adam Zampa agrees Essex return for T20 Blast title defence

The Australian spinner claimed 12 wickets during the county's victorious 2019 campaign and could be available for the entire tournament pending national selection

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Essex have signed Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa for a third consecutive T20 Blast campaign.

The 27-year-old first joined the county on an overseas stint in 2018 and was the Eagles' lead bowler through their title-winning run in 2019, claiming 12 wickets in his 11 outings for the side.

He will join the county before representing Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, with the new competition set to start one week after the conclusion of the Blast's pool stages.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back to Chelmsford and playing in front of that great crowd again," Zampa said.

"I've played there for the last two years now and Essex is a great club to play for. I get on really well with all the lads in the changing room and I feel at home there.

"Last year was amazing. We didn't start too well but once we got on a roll we were unstoppable. Not many people would have had us down to win it, but we knew what we were capable of, and hopefully we can repeat that in 2020."

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A cardboard Adam Zampa celebrates the Eagles' trophy at Finals Day in 2019

Though domestic commitments in Australia meant Zampa left Essex after their quarter-final win over Lancashire at Chester-le-Street, the club says he is set to join the team for the entirety of next season's tournament, including any knockout games pending qualification.

However, Australia's men are set to tour England in the summer for three ODIs and three T20 internationals between July 3 and July 16. Should Zampa be selected for either portion of this series, he would likely be unavailable for the final four games of the group stage.

Zampa is the second Australian to commit to Essex for the 2020 season as Peter Siddle is soon to enter the final year of a two-season contract, however the seamer has not represented the county in the T20 format since August 2018.

Anthony McGrath, the county's head coach, commented: "We all know just how talented Adam is as we've seen it the last two summers. He’s one of the best leg-spinners around at the moment.

"He's been excellent for us the last couple of seasons and he’s a great guy to have around the dressing room, so I’m delighted he's going to be back with us."

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