Zampa signs with Hobart Hurricanes, but says overseas players still getting the better BBL deal

Adam Zampa has signed a two-year deal with the Hobart Hurricanes, covering the 2026-27 and 2027-28 Big Bash League seasons. The move makes Hobart his fifth BBL club, having previously represented Sydney Thunder, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades.

Zampa has taken 138 wickets in 121 BBL games across his career. Despite being content with his new signing, he has spoken openly about his view that the league's revised contracting system has not fully benefited Australian players. He also acknowledged the position that contracted Australian players find themselves in.

"It's probably not landed exactly where we thought it might. I think the overseas players are still getting the good end of the deal. But I'm happy with my decision. As soon as the embargo lifted, I was pretty keen to sign with Hobart. I think I've made a really good choice. I think it's potentially just a niggly situation that both parties are in, and I think having players of really good standard, Australian cricket team standard, under contract has kind of made them more powerful in that sense as well," Zampa said, as quoted by Cricinfo.

Why does Zampa feel the new BBL system still favours overseas players?

The BBL removed the overseas player draft last month and gave clubs more freedom in how they spend their salary cap. The change was intended, in principle, to open up more money for high-profile Australian players. However, most of those players were already on existing contracts and remained tied to their current clubs, limiting the practical benefit for local talent. Zampa explained his concern about how the removal of the draft has played out in practice.

"The draft's gone, and that money, instead of having slots for each player, then you can potentially go and pay more for good overseas, and then have less overseas, which is kind of what's happened, and it's kind of against the point as to what the local players think we kind of deserve," he said.

Meanwhile, Ben Stokes has signed a big-money deal with Adelaide Strikers, and Finn Allen is expected to attract a significant sum after his success with Perth Scorchers last season, illustrating the continued appetite for marquee overseas signings under the new system.

What drew Zampa to Hobart and what is the broader BBL context?

Zampa was the only Australian team player off contract heading into this contracting period, which meant he had genuine options. Ultimately, the people at Hobart Hurricanes played a central role in his decision

"Being one of the only players in the Australian team who was off contract, there was definitely discussions with other teams. [But] once it got to crunch time, I spoke with [Nathan Ellis, Hurricanes captain] a little bit, the people that are at Hobart kind of sparked my interest in what I wanted to get out of playing the Big Bash. I think I've gone to a lot of teams for the people that are there and that's always an important decision in my decision-making." Zampa said.

At Hobart, Zampa will be joining a squad that includes Tim David, Riley Meredith, Ben McDermott and Mitch Owen. On September 8, Cricket Australia approved the privatisation of the BBL, with Melbourne Renegades set to be the first club to be sold, adding another layer of change to the competition's landscape heading into the new season.