Jonassen primed for White Ferns series

Jess Jonassen couldn’t have asked for a more disastrous start to the summer, but the allrounder believes she’s found her rhythm just in time to press for a return to Australia’s one-day XI.

Australia will meet New Zealand in the three-match Commonwealth Bank ODI Series beginning in Perth on Friday, with Jonassen one of three spinners included in the 13-player squad alongside leg-spinner Georgia Wareham and off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner.

Jonassen suffered a knee injury at a pre-summer camp in September, was forced to undergo knee surgery – the fourth of her career – and was subsequently ruled out of Australia’s ODI series against Pakistan in Malaysia in October.

The 26-year-old returned to the Australian squad for November’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, but was unable to break back into the XI with left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux – who has been ruled out of the ODI series due to injury - and Wareham both in excellent form.

Reflecting on the ICC tournament in the Caribbean, Jonassen admitted it was a tough period after being a staple member of Australia’s XI across all formats in recent years.

“For a long period of time I was in the squad and I’d found ways to contribute on the field, so to find myself in a different (role), it took a little bit for me - not to get used to it – but to find other ways to contribute to the team’s success," Jonassen said.

“I think now I’ve had the domestic summer under my belt, I’ve got a bit more confident not only in my body but my skills as well.

“Hopefully I get out on the field in some of these games coming up and take some wickets as well, that’d be nice.”

With a full Rebel WBBL season and three 50-over domestic matches now under her belt since that surgery, Jonassen – who sits fifth in the ICC’s ODI bowling rankings - believes she’s doing everything she can to press her case for an ODI recall against the White Ferns.

The left-arm spinner took 15 wickets at 27.26 during the Heat’s title-winning WBBL campaign, before starring in Queensland’s final three matches of the WNCL season, taking nine wickets at 9.85 and bowling at an economy rate of 2.39 as the Fire fell short in the final against NSW.

That form will be a welcome relief for Australian selectors given Molineux’s late withdrawal from the series on Friday.

“It was pretty challenging throughout the WBBL, you had so many high scores in that competition so returning to the 50-over stuff was really welcome,” Jonassen said.

“I really enjoyed knowing I had 10 overs to potentially bowl and I felt like I started to get a really good rhythm and to take a few wickets was also nice as well.

“I’d be lying if I said (selection) wasn’t in the back of my mind.

“The girls did really well in Malaysia against Pakistan so it will be challenging to get back in there but for me, I know I’m bowling well and things are going really well and I’m doing everything I can control.

“Hopefully I get given the opportunity and if I do, I can take it with both hands.”

The Australian selectors face a tough decision around their bowling attack for the three-match ODI series, with Jonassen and Wareham vying for spots alongside pace-bowling allrounders Nicola Carey and Delissa Kimmince, and left-arm quick Lauren Cheatle.

The 2018-19 KFC BBL Final will be on Sunday Feb 17 at 2.45pm AEDT at Marvel Stadium. Tickets on sale here

CommBank ODIs v NZ 

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

New Zealand squad: Amy Satterthwaite (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

February 22: First ODI, WACA Ground, Perth

February 24: Second ODI, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

March 3: Third ODI, Junction Oval, Melbourne