Despite being available for selection, Jess Jonassen became one of Australia’s most experienced cricketers to be dropped from the T20 World Cup 2024 squad. In her 105 T20 International matches, she is one of the finest cricketers Australia have produced over the years. Her exclusion shows cut-throat competition in the Australian spin-bowling department, headed by Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, and Ash Gardner.
Jonassen’s axing comes after a tough period in which she was overlooked for the tour of Bangladesh earlier this year, which signalled the start of her gradual phase-out from the team. It’s been since her last T20I appearance, during the horror time at North Sydney Oval against Hayley Matthews, that she lost her spot last summer.
While Jonassen has been active in the domestic leagues, she was the top wicket-taker for Delhi Capitals with 11 wickets in the WPL and 12 wickets in The Hundred; her recent string of performances is not strong enough to be considered for national selection. Currently, she is featuring in the WCPL, representing Trinbago Knight Riders after a successful outing with Welsh Fire.
Alyssa Healy is disappointed on Jess Jonassen’s exclusion from T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Australian Alyssa Healy had some remorse about Jonassen missing out but said she doesn’t shut doors on her comeback into the setup. Healy shared Jonassen had contributed much in the past few years and he feels that she has a future with the national side and can probably come back this summer.
“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 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.”
Although Healy has the strongest team, Jonassen’s omission from the squad leaves a factor missing behind. The chances for her reinstatement are still open in the words of selector Shawn Flegler, particularly with the Ashes series in prospect. Her dedication will be closely followed this summer at home. Flegler’s statement reads:
“Jess Jonassen is again unlucky to miss out, but we’ve been impressed with the way she’s bounced back, and we’ll continue to monitor her form ahead of the home summer,”
Flegler said the doors were still open to her, more specifically with the Ashes just weeks away and that her bid would be watched very closely across the home summer ahead. They will travel via New Zealand before arriving in the UAE to play a three-match T20I series against them.
Most notably, the series also includes allrounder Heather Graham, who is excluded from the World Cup squad. Other notable names in the squad announced with Healy and Litchfield are Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, and Ellyse Perry, reinforcing the fact that Australia has great strategic depth in the side.
In a notable development, Healy will captain the side for the first time at a T20 World Cup, supported by long-serving captaincy experience from Tahlia McGrath. Probably for the first time in a very long period, this situation represents the availability and fitness of all contracted Australian players in the playing squad, thus making it really deep and prepared.
Australia Women’s T20 World Cup squad without Jess Jonassen
Alyssa Healy (capt and wk), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck
Also, see:
Fatima Sana named Pakistan captain for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
