Australian left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen has been excluded from the squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of Bangladesh. Chief selector Shawn Flegler clarified that this omission does not signal the end of Jonassen’s international career, hinting at potential future opportunities.
Jonassen, a key figure in the Australian lineup since her debut in 2012, was not part of the recent home series against South Africa, with coach Shelley Nitschke opting for other spin options. Flegler explained that Jonaffssen’s role has diminished over the past couple of years due to the emergence of players like Ash Gardner, Georgia Wareham, and Alana King.
“I think over the last couple of years, particularly over the last 12 months, JJ’s role has not been as strong in the team. That’s probably more to do with players like Ash Gardner having her game develop…and also players like Georgia Wareham with her skill set. Alana King’s form as well over the last 12 to 18 months has been really strong,” said Flegler.
Tayla Vlaeminck, who has been plagued by injuries, is set to make her comeback after more than two years. Despite facing setbacks due to a dislocated shoulder and a stress fracture in her foot, Vlaeminck’s resilience has earned her a spot in the 15-player squad. Flegler’s emotional phone call delivering the news left Vlaeminck momentarily speechless, describing the moment as “a bit surreal.”
“I think I lost the ability to speak for a moment there. It’s something I’ve been pushing towards and it’s given me motivation over the last couple of years. For it to actually happen, it felt a little bit surreal, to be honest,” Vlaeminck said.
Heather Graham, an all-rounder on the fringes of the Australian set-up, has also missed out on selection for the Bangladesh tour. Flegler remains pragmatic about the decisions, emphasizing the dynamic nature of squad compositions, especially considering potential injuries leading up to the T20 World Cup in September.
Australia‘s tour of Bangladesh includes three ODIs and three T20Is, starting with the first ODI on March 21. This series marks the first bilateral tour of Bangladesh for the Australian women’s team since 2014.
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