Australian officials insist veteran Jess Jonassen has a path to a return to international cricket after being left out of the national squad for the Twenty20 World Cup. Jonassen was the most notable omission from Australia's 15-man squad on Monday, with the defending champions remaining injury-free and in top form for the UAE tournament.
Alyssa Healy will captain Australia to their first World Cup, with spinner Sophie Molyneux and speedy Tayla Vlaminck also returning from long injury bouts, while all-rounders Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham and Alanna King have also been selected, giving the team four spinners.
But there was no room for Jonassen, who has won five T20 World Cups with Australia since his debut in 2012.
“Jess Jonassen has once again been unlucky to miss out,” said chief selector Sean Flegler, “but we have been impressed with how she has bounced back and will continue to monitor her form closely ahead of the domestic summer break.”
The 31-year-old Jonassen, who was omitted from the tour of Bangladesh earlier this year, has made a strong case for a return with impressive performances in the WPL and Hundred.
“There's still a ways to go and the door is still wide open,” Healy said. “You look at her career and how she's progressed over the last four or five years. She's been on the team, she's been off the team.”
“I feel a bit sorry for Jono myself, I know how much she can contribute in big tournaments and how reliable she is, so I think her future is still bright with Australia.”
Phoebe Litchfield has been selected for her World Cup debut but Healy said there were no changes to the opening line-up between herself and Beth Mooney, with the youngster likely to be a central batsman.
“Our opening spot has remained pretty much the same for the past few World Cups,” Healy said, “and I hope our captain can run with Beth Mooney because she just keeps running for fun.”
“If I had to say, the opening partnership will remain the same. What matters is how the middle order plays out.”
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Flegler said Litchfield is a “real difference-maker” among an experienced team, while fastball duo Vlaeminck and Darcy Brown will be “real difference-makers” for the team.
Australia have never played in the UAE and it is unclear what will happen on the wicket, but Healy said there may be room for both fast bowlers in the same XI.
“I'd love to see that,” Healy said. “I think we've got some versatile guys on the team and we could work on our fastball attack a little bit. It makes a big difference having those two guys on the team. And probably with the conditions coming up, having that speed could be a big advantage.”
The team will face New Zealand in a three-match T20 series in Queensland next month before taking on Sri Lanka in their World Cup opener on October 4.
