NEWS
Follow UsDespite having represented Australia in 105 T20Is, Jess Jonassen wasn’t considered for Australia’s squad for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup in the Middle East. That, in itself, shows the amount of talent that Australia have at their disposal.
The left-arm spinner was earlier left out of Australia’s squad for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. Since the start of the year, the left-handed all-rounder has amassed 271 runs with a strike rate of 127.8 with the bat while picking up 26 wickets with the ball, averaging just 15.4.
Does that mean the end of the road for her ahead of the T20 World Cup? Australian skipper Alyssa Healy did not rule out a potential return for Jonassen.
"Hundred per cent, the path's still there, the door is still wide open," Australia captain Alyssa Healy said of Jonassen.
"You look at her career and how it's progressed, particularly over the past five or six years, she's been in the squad, out of the squad, her and Sophie Molineux have sort of [gone] tit-for-tat along the way.
"I'm disappointed for Jono [Jonassen] myself. I have played a lot of cricket with her over the years and know exactly what she can contribute to the Australian team in big tournaments and how clutch she can be. I still see a big future for her in the Aussie side, there's always a niggle or whatnot around [during] the summer, and she'll still be around this summer no doubt."
Over the last few years, Australia have had to transition thanks to Meg Lanning’s retirement from international cricket. Healy insisted that she is hopefully guiding the up-and-coming group of talents in the right direction towards a potential T20 World Cup win.
"You even look at the last 12-18 months, the turnover we've had, we've lost over 700 games of experience. It's got to come at some point in time, [but] fortunately there's still a few of us old birds still floating around who can hopefully impart some wisdom on how to win tournaments. Think the youth in our group is really exciting and hopefully we can just help mentor or lead them in the right direction because think the youth in our squad is going to win this World Cup for us,” she added.
There’s talk that Australia could pair Darcie Brown and Tayla Vlaeminck in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup in the Middle East.
"I'd love to see it [Brown and Tayla bowling together]. We are so blessed with ample allrounders that I think we can play around a little bit with our fast-bowling attack. Think having those two in our side is huge point of difference, especially in [the] conditions potentially we are going to get, having real pace in your side is a real advantage.”
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