Adam Zampa's Major League Cricket shirt number sparks wild fan theories
The reality behind the cricket star's eye-opening choice of number has not been lost on fans.
Z is for Zampa. Z is also for zany. Australian cricket star Adam Zampa has attracted instant headlines for America’s fledgling Major League Cricket competition - and it had nothing to do with what he did with bat or ball.
The extroverted Aussie leg spinner instead caused a storm with his choice of number on the back of his LA Knight Riders’ playing shirt. Zampa opted for number 420 - presumably as a reference to marijuana - for the match against the Texas Super Kings.
'SURPRISED': Alex Carey's telling response to Jonny Bairstow Ashes outrage
CLASSIC: Mitchell Starc's hilarious Alyssa Healy reveal amid Ashes battle
HUGE: Michael Neser puts Ashes selectors on notice in astonishing feat
The origins of 420 are a little murky, with one suggestion it was the police radio call used for any dope related offence in the US. Another explanation is it’s the room number the Grateful Dead insisted on staying in during their touring days.
A more plausible reason is it’s the codename a bunch of schoolboys gave their group in 1971 after discovering a marijuana crop in San Francisco. The boys would meet after school at 4:20pm, hence the tag.
Every year around the world, marijuana enthusiasts meet on April 20 (4/20 on the American calendar) to celebrate their love of weed and push for its decriminalisation. Zampa has not publicly declared why he chose shirt number 420 but fans have decided it’s his way of bringing a bit of life and colour to the American tournament.
Adam Zampa shirt number takes internet by storm
It certainly became a major talking point. Fans from around the cricket world took to social media to speculate about Zampa’s motives for using 420.
Adam Zampa is throwing his apparently throwing some not so subtle support behind efforts to get cannabis legalized in Texas. He'll be wearing jersey number #420 when he takes the field tonight for @LA_KnightRiders in the @MLCricket tournament opener against Texas Super Kings. pic.twitter.com/jUCywKd4fw
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) July 13, 2023
Why does Adam Zampa think he’s Snoop Dogg banging 420 on his shirt and why have they given them horrible whistles out to crowd 🤣 enjoying it though so far it’s like a diluted IPL game #MajorLeagueCricket
— Luke Black (@lukeblack85) July 14, 2023
Adam Zampa wearing No.420.... does he have shares in the medicinal cannabis industry? #MLCricket #MLC2023
— Ronny Lerner (@RonnyLerner) July 14, 2023
Adam Zampa rolling out 420 as his number for this tournament 😂😂 #MajorLeagueCricket
— El Pistolero (@Lubberlyred) July 14, 2023
Zampa is wearing jersey no. 420 🤣
— Rᴀɪᴋᴀᴛ (@ShortArmJab7) July 14, 2023
Adam Zampa remains one of cricket's quirkiest characters
The 31-year-old has long done things his way, refusing to conform to cricket’s straight-laced ways. He lives on a farm on the NSW far north coast - away from the major cricketing centres - and long ago adopted a vegan diet.
He is passionate about environmental and social issues and a keen advocate for animal welfare. Now it appears he is lending his support to another popular cause.
Zampa’s LA Knight Riders are co-owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and boast premier West Indian players Sunil Narime, Andre Russell, South African Rilee Rossouw and New Zealander Lockie Ferguson among their playing ranks.
Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.
