Jonassen offers pearls of wisdom to young spinners

Jess Jonassen is relishing her role as leader of Australia’s spin pack as she looks to recreate her standout Ashes campaign of 2015.

The Queensland allrounder – whose previous experience in the United Kingdom includes the 2015 Ashes campaigns and the 2017 World Cup – has taken on a mentoring role with fellow Ashes tweakers Ashleigh Gardner and particularly Georgia Wareham, sharing tips on how to thrive in English conditions when the multi-format Ashes kick off next week.

At 26 years of age, the left-arm spinner already has 120 international matches under her belt after debuting in 2012 aged 19 – a world of experience compared to her two fellow Ashes tweakers, off-spinner Gardner (44 games) and leg-spinner Wareham (17).

In Jonassen, and Australian assistant Shelley Nitschke – a four-time Belinda Clark Award winner who enjoyed a stellar international career as a left-arm spinner and allrounder – Australia’s young guns have plenty to expertise to call upon.

"I’m looking to try and take on a bit more a senior role in that sense and a bit of a mentor role with the young spinners coming through, with with a bit more of the tactical planning as well," Jonassen said in Loughborough on Thursday.

"It’s really good having Shelley as part of the group as well, as someone who’s played a lot of cricket for her country and I think for me personally, being a left-arm spinner as well, I really take a lot out of that.

"For me out on the field I haven’t really changed my role within the team, but I’ve taken more of an off-field role with the spin group that I’m looking to keep extending.

"Behind closed doors we have a chat about the opposition, grounds that I may have played at that (Wareham) hasn’t played at yet, with little things like that I look to help wherever I can."

Jonassen’s been particularly impressed with the way Wareham has seamlessly fitted into the Australian set-up since making her debut last September.

The Victorian has appeared unflappable bowling to some of the world’s top players and was a key part of Australia’s win in the T20 World Cup final in Antigua last November, with her two wickets and direct-hit run out crucial in defeating England.

"She’s been great, she’s got a really good work ethic and that fits really well in our set up," Jonassen said of Wareham.

"She’s always looking to learn, both her and (fellow newcomer) Tayla Vlaeminck, they’re both really excited that they’re part of this group over here in the UK.

"It’s somewhere they’ve never been before and they’re just thriving off every moment they’re part of."

Jonassen holds fond memories of Australia’s last overseas Ashes campaign in 2015, when she was player of the match in the Test for her knocks of 99 and 54 on debut.

She’s eagerly anticipating a return to the scene of that performance – Canterbury’s St Lawrence Ground – for the third ODI, but won’t be taking anything for granted this time around.

"It was a long time ago now and each series is different, but it gives me a bit of confidence knowing I’ve had a few good performances in the English conditions in the past," Jonassen said.

"I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t look back on those times and try and replicate them in a way, but in saying that, we’ve got a really strong side all up and coming up against a really in-form English set-up as well.

"I can’t take anything for granted and I can’t look too much into the past, because everything is going to be different."

Australia will meet the England Academy team in a 50-over warm-up at Loughborough University’s Haslegrave Ground on Friday from 10.30am local (7.30pm AEST), with live scores available on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app.

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

June 26: England Academy v Australia, Loughborough

June 28:  England Academy v Australia, Loughborough

July 2: First ODI, Grace Road, Leicester

July 4: Second ODI, Grace Road, Leicester

July 7:  Third ODI, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury

July 11-13: England Academy v Australia, Marlborough College, Swindon

July 18-21: Only Test, The County Ground, Taunton

July 26: First T20, County Ground, Chelmsford

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol

A Test victory is worth four points (two each for a draw), two points are awarded for ODI and T20 wins