Leg-spinner Adam Zampa has taken a veiled swipe at Test selectors after his exclusion from the 16-man squad to tour the subcontinent next month in favour of international rookie Mitchell Swepson.
Australian selectors could find no room for last year's leading wicket taker in one-day international cricket, despite naming four spin bowlers in the squad with Swepson joining incumbent Nathan Lyon and left-arm orthodox duo Steve O'Keefe and Ashton Agar.
Retired Test quick Geoff Lawson said earlier this week that he was surprised by Zampa's omission, while Melbourne Stars teammate Kevin Pietersen has also spoken this summer about how highly he rates the 24-year-old.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's one-dayer against Pakistan at the SCG, which Zampa is expected to play in after sitting out the first three matches this series, the leg-spinner said he would have been suited to Indian conditions.
"It's disappointing being seen as just a defensive option," Zampa said. "I thought that the defensive style of bowling usually works in those conditions and my experience over there could've helped.
"There's not much you can really do about it, the selectors have gone for a more attacking option.
"I've never actually been in the Test squad so the feedback you have to try and go and get yourself, obviously from the press conference with [chairman of selectors] Trevor Hohns.
"Mitchell Swepson's a very good bowler. I've watched him throughout the BBL and it's going to be nice to have that healthy competition with him for however many years."
At the time of Swepson's shock selection, Hohns said: "He's a wicket-taking leg-spinner. At the end of the day you've got to take wickets to win Test matches and given the opportunity we feel that he could play a part over there and if he doesn't he'll gain a lot from the experience from being there."
Zampa's 30 one-day international wickets set the benchmark last year, and he also took five scalps at the Twenty20 World Cup in India.
He averages 27.80 with the ball in one-day cricket and less than 18 in T20 internationals, but that blows out to 50.35 at first-class level where he plays for South Australia as opposed to Swepson's 32.82 in the longer form for Queensland.
"I've actually bowled really well the last couple of years in [Sheffield] Shield cricket," Zampa said.
"It always helps when you've got guys taking wickets around you, like I have with [Chadd] Sayers, [Daniel] Worrall, [Joe] Mennie and [Kane] Richardson.
"I'll keep playing my role within that team and then hopefully one day I get a crack. I'll still be concentrating on my strengths more than anything.
"I'm looking forward to hopefully winning the Shield now with the Redbacks."
Australia leads the one-day series against Pakistan 2-1 following Thursday's seven-wicket win at the WACA, but selectors are yet to select a specialist spinner.
That looks set to change on Sunday, which will give Zampa his chance on the big-turning SCG.
Zampa was temporarily released by Cricket Australia during the week to play for his Melbourne Stars in their Big Bash loss to the Brisbane Heat at the MCG. Should the Stars advance to the BBL final Zampa should be available again to boost their bowling stocks.
