Adam Zampa has reacted to being snubbed for the upcoming Test tour of India, admitting the messaging from national selectors has left him feeling 'very flat'.
The 30-year-old has become Australia's premier white-ball spinner in recent years, starring in the side's T20 World Cup victory in 2021 and dominating in ODIs.
But his red-ball career has taken a back-seat, only recently returning to the Sheffield Shield competition after a lengthy absence in a bid to boost his selection chances for India.
Zampa was overlooked for the four-game series, with the Aussies pushing the likes of Ashton Agar, Mitchell Swepson and Todd Murphy into the squad over him.
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Speaking to the media ahead of Saturday night's BBL clash between the Stars and Renegades, Zampa revealed his conversations with head selector George Bailey gave him the indication he was going to travel with the Test squad.
"I'm very disappointed, I would loved to have been on it," Zampa said.
"I thought with the way that I've been going in international cricket in particular that this was going to be my opportunity.
"That was the messaging I got six weeks ago as well, that this was going to be very good chance I could potentially be on it but now that I'm not, I'm very flat about it and it's time to just move on from it.
"I was really excited to potentially be on this tour...the messaging was that my style of bowling might have been handy over there.
"I think potentially last minute, there was a change of mind."
Zampa has taken 108 first-class wickets throughout his career at a disappointing average in the high-40s, but his work on the international stage in T20 and ODI cricket should have counted for something.
Bailey told reporters on Wednesday that while Zampa was keen to be part of the Test series, the selectors opted to stick with Swepson.
"Zamps has displayed a real keenness to be around the Test squad and we just probably haven't seen enough red-ball cricket from him," he said.
"And to be fair to Swep, we've liked what he's given us when he's had his opportunities...[we will] continue to invest in him and see where he can get to."
With a chaotic schedule coming up and the Aussies not touring India again in red-ball cricket for a number of years, the opportunity for Zampa to make the jump to Test cricket may have passed him by.
With the upcoming 50-over World Cup and other important white-ball fixtures, Zampa understands his position in the pecking order and will discuss his future with the selectors and head coach Andrew McDonald.
"I'm not going to close the door completely to red-ball cricket...but life is always about balance and I've got a family and these white-ball tours and World Cups that are coming up," he said.
"It's two years until the next subcontinent tour, that's a long way away and I've got two white-ball World Cups to concentrate on before that.
"I don't know what is in store for me red-ball cricket wise, I'm just going to get through this Big Bash and reconsider.
"I'll have those conversations with George Bailey and Andrew McDonald to see what the next little bit looks like for me, what's best for them and for myself, so those conversations will be had after the BBL."