Stars not fazed by red-ball switch

Allrounder Jess Jonassen says the Southern Stars are not fazed about switching to the longer format of the game as they prepare for next week’s first and only Test of the Women’s Ashes series.

The Southern Stars will head into the four-day Test in Canterbury with their noses in front in the seven-match series – which combines all three formats of the game – after winning the ODI series 2-1 late last month.

Australia are using the two-week break between the ODIs and the Test to ready themselves for red-ball cricket, and are currently in the midst of a two-day tour match against an ECB Academy team in Loughborough.

“It’s always going to be tough changing formats, but we’ve done a fair bit of preparation back home with a red-ball focus,” Jonassen said.

“Having two weeks between the ODIs and the Test will allow us to really have that focus and really be able to switch that mentality heading into the match next week.”

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The last time Australia played a Test match was against England during the 2013-14 Ashes series.

After losing last month’s first ODI to England by four wickets, Southern Stars coach Matthew Mott credited a change in bowling tactics – bowling straighter and targeting the stumps to deny the free-flowing English top-order a chance to free their arms – for convincing wins in the remaining two games.

Jonassen said she did not expect much to change in the way the Stars approached next week’s Test match.

“I think our plans generally stay pretty consistent,” she said. “We still want to play a positive game and it’s just that now we’ll have more time to do it.”

All 14 members of the Southern Stars squad are taking part in the warm-up match against the ECB Academy, with selectors facing the tough task of selecting the Test XI after Australia fielded a different line-up for each match in the ODI series.

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Jonassen said she believed a wealth of in-form players to choose from was a good problem to have.

“To have such a tough decision for the selectors can only mean good things for the health of the women’s game within Australia,” she said.

The off-spinning allrounder put her hand up for a maiden Test match appearance on day one of the tour match in Loughborough yesterday (Saturday), leading the wicket takers with 3-15 from 11 overs.

“Having all 14 players up for selection doesn’t change anything for me in terms of pressure, but any opportunity I get I try to make the most of it,” Jonassen said.

“I felt pretty good during the ODIs as well and it’s nice to be on a tour pain free for once.

“I’m really happy with how I’m bowling and hopefully I can continue that throughout the tour.”

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The tourists will resume at 2-20 on Sunday after the ECB Academy declared on 9-279 on day one.

Batting first, the hosts were led by Fran Wilson (55) and Laura Marsh (44), before declaring nine wickets down after 89 overs.

Jonassen’s efforts with the ball were backed up by pace bowlers Holly Ferling (2-28) and Rene Farrell (2-34), while skipper Meg Lanning (1no) and Ellyse Perry (13no) will resume for Australia after openers Nicole Bolton and Elyse Villani were dismissed late on Saturday for one run apiece.

“It was always going to be a tough little period at the end of the day after fielding all day with nine overs to bat,” Jonassen said.

“We’ve got a little bit of work to do in the morning but I’m confident with how Meg and ‘Pez’ have been performing so far that they’ll take it really deep into tomorrow and then hopefully the rest of us can cash in on their hard work after that.”

The Southern Stars will next head to Beckenham for a three-day tour match against a combined ECB Academy and Kent boys side, before the Women’s Ashes Test begins in Canterbury on August 11.

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