Australia Leave Out Jess Jonassen For Women's T20 World Cup

Australia Women have excluded experienced spinner Jess Jonassen ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup in favor of seam bowler Tayla Vlaeminck., the World Cup is now set to be played in the UAE. Australia has announced a 15-member squad for the World Cup.

Heather Graham will be playing for Australia in the T20I series against New Zealand at home, but won't be travelling with the squad for the World Cup.

SQUAD: Alyssa Healy (C), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (VC), Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck

The Australian side has opted for consistency and has retained the same squad that played the T20I leg against Bangladesh earlier in the year. The venue of the World Cup has been shifted to UAE from Bangladesh due to political unrest in the country.

"This is probably the first time that our entire squad of contracted players is available for the selection, ensuring we have a balanced squad heading to UAE". Shawn Fiegler Australia Women's Team's selector stated.

"Phoebe Litchfield brings the much-needed X-factor into the side that is very important for us," he added. The pace duo of Tayla Vlaeminck and Darcie Brown is something we have been waiting to play together, and there is no bigger opportunity than the Women's World Cup to unleash them". Fiegler stated

Vlaeminck made her comeback into the side on the tour of Bangladesh, she has missed a good amount of cricket since the 2022 ODI World Cup due to Stress fractures. She also missed the WBBL season in 2023 due to a shoulder injury.

Jess Jonassen has been left out of the squad, she last played a T20I series against the West Indies at home. Her last international assignment was against India in the one-off test at Wankhede at the end of last year.

Jonassen has been a vital cog for Brisbane Heat and the Delhi Capitals in the BBL and WPL, Jonassen was Brisbane Heat's highest wicket-taker in 2023 with 24 wickets, while she was the third highest wicket-taker for Delhi Capitals in the WPL earlier this year.

"Jess is again unlucky to miss out, she has been a star performer for us, and we are satisfied with the way she has bounced back, we'll look to monitor her performances ahead."

Australia are entering the tournament as defending champions, if they manage to win the T20 World Cup again, they will be the first side Men's or Women's to claim the titles four times in the row.