It was on display when he scored a crucial half century to help Warilla chase 328 in the 2009 South Coast Cricket grand final.

And it was on display when he produced a brilliant wrong'un to bowl a dangerous Kane Williamson in the final one-day clash Australia played before the coronavirus shutdown.

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But off the field, the 28-year-old has always possessed a unique personality.

One only needs to take a cursory glance at his Instagram profile or watch a few episodes of The Test to realise he is just a little bit different.

That documentary had viewers intrigued by the antics of Zampa and Marcus Stoinis, the 'Love Cafe' scene in particular leaving many scratching their heads.

Australian coach Justin Langer was among that group.

"They are two of the rarest human beings I've ever met in my life," Langer said in the documentary. "They are rare!"

While Zampa's unique nature has come to the forefront in public in recent years, others have been lucky enough to watch him grow and evolve throughout his life.

Living next door to the Zampas in Warilla, Craig Bramble watched as Adam developed from a four-year-old hitting a ball hanging from a piece of string into a 12-year-old playing second grade before ultimately captaining a 16-year-old Zampa in the aforementioned South Coast Cricket grand final.

"He's always been a character," Bramble said. "With all teenagers, they're trying to fit into the team, trying not to stand out too much. When you're a junior playing seniors, often you have to be mindful, you want to try and fit in.

"I had the advantage of watching him grow up since he was little. He's always had that something a little different about him. He's always had his own individual, different, personality. I think it's benefited him in his cricket career."

After making a leap of faith and moving to South Australia as a 21-year-old, Zampa officially returned to his home state this week, the leg spinner joining the Blues after seven seasons with the Redbacks.

While he's always had a different streak about him, Adam's father Darren said the proud vegan's unique character has only grown over the years.

"What you see on TV is probably who Adam is," Darren said. "I don't know where he gets it from, it ain't me.

"He was always a little bit different. He got more and more into that way while living in Sydney.

"I suppose having been around the world and seen that many places before he was 20, you see different ways of life and it makes you act a little bit differently."

As someone who grew up near the beach in Warilla, Zampa has fallen in love with Byron Bay.

The town's coastal location and unique culture and lifestyle perfectly match his personality.

It was there that the cricketer zoomed off to during the early stages of coronavirus, the pandemic delaying his marriage to fiancée Harriet, but not preventing a trip to the northern NSW town.

"I've spent a little bit of time at home and at my favourite part of Australia, Byron Bay," Zampa said in an interview last month. "That was nice to put my feet up there and have that little mental break.

"We went back to Warilla on the way back down as well, so I've spent a little bit of time at home with my family, which has been a little bit different, but nice."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of Zampa's close mates, and another unique character is former Warilla teammate Nic Maddinson.

Born just four months apart, the duo progressed through the junior ranks together before Zampa's move to South Australia.

Current Melbourne Stars teammates, the leg spinner had the chance to link up with Maddinson in Victoria, before settling on NSW.

"They were very close," Bramble said. "To see them playing for the Stars, you watch them now in the BBL, you can see they're still close, which is really good to see.

"They're two guys who have always been close, their paths have crossed so often and they still have that strong connection.

"Nic's got his own personality, the own way he does things. They're both individuals, they were good teammates.

"Nic was someone you think would make it from an early age, he was a real standout. Adam had to work harder to get to where he got to."

Zampa likes to have fun away from the cricket pitch, that much is clear.

But it should not be discounted how fiercely competitive he is on the field.

Cricket remains his No.1 focus and cricket was ultimately the deciding factor in the decision to move back to NSW, a return to his home state an added bonus.

A Twenty20 and one-day star, Zampa has been pigeonholed by many as a white-ball specialist, but it's a perception he is determined to change.

The leg spinner had limited opportunities in South Australia, a combination of factors leading him to play just three Shield games across the last two seasons.

With Nathan Lyon set to spend most of the season on Australian duties, Zampa is optimistic he'll have more chances to shine with the red ball with the Blues.

That, he hopes, will lead him closer to achieving his Test dream.

"There was a couple of reasons why I moved back home," Zampa told reporters this week. "Obviously the opportunity to play some Shield cricket was one.

"I think you'd have to be silly not to aim for Test cricket and also be silly not to recognise that Nathan has that spot and probably has it solidly for the next three or four years minimum.

"So, if you're another spinner in the country, your best bet is probably try and play with Nathan. So if I can form a relationship with him and play some Shield cricket with Nathan, it's probably the best way to get the baggy green.

"Obviously it's also nice to be home, I've missed my family for seven or eight years now and also my partner made a pretty big sacrifice to move to Adelaide, so it's a good opportunity for her to spend more time with her family."

If the fight to earn a Test call-up is anything like the desire he showed as a teenager, Bramble has no doubts Zampa will achieve his goal.

While Maddinson was blessed with oodles of natural talent, the bowler was not so fortunate.

A talented youngster, sure, but not the one observers would highlight as a future Australian representative.

So Zampa fought. Whether it was in the nets with his father or facing grown men as a 12-year-old, Zampa dug in, determined to get better and prove himself.

It's that adversity that Bramble feels helped lay the platform for what has been a successful career.

"Nothing's been easy for him," Bramble said. "It wasn't as though he was identified early and was super talented, he's had to work hard.

"He's obviously got a bit of talent, but he had to work hard to get ahead of others. His work ethic is tremendous, it's still there."

And if Adam does eventually achieve his Test dream, Bramble, Darren and the rest of the Kookas clan will be out in force to cheer on their old clubmate.

"I think you'll find a lot of Kookas guys turn up at Shield games now. A local boy, we'll get to see one of our own doing so well.

"Hopefully we'll be there for a Test as well."

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