Jess Jonassen has fond memories of touring Bangladesh which is why she has set her sights on returning next year for the Women’s T20 World Cup.
The 30-year-old spinner has been a key figure for Australia ever since winning her first T20 World Cup in 2012 with three wickets in the final in Colombo.
In 2014 she was a member Australia’s winning side again in the final held the Bangladesh capital Dhaka.
“Being a spin bowler I am really relishing the opportunity to go to some spin friendly wickets,” Jonassen said.
“My second T20 World Cup was in Bangladesh and we managed to win that one against England in the final.
“I’ve had some really good and happy memories and I hope I get the opportunity to build on those.
“It would be nice to go back to a country I was at when I was younger…with a bit more experience and more of a mature head on my shoulders.”
Jonassen acknowledged that there was a lot of hard work to be done to get on the plane for thr tournament but it is a goal she has marked down on her cricket calendar.
With so much cricket being played she said it was important to “take the breaks” when convenient.
“I’ve been home the last two weeks from the Ashes and decided not to partake in The Hundred,” she said.
“It is about taking those windows of opportunity and being able to plan what you want to be part of and work towards.”
Jonassen said it would be vital for her to find form in the domestic cricket season and home international ODI and T20 series against West Indies in October, ahead of the upcoming multi-format tour of India which will include on Test, three ODIs and three T20s.
Australia will be aiming to improve on their form in the Ashes in England, which they retained after winning the solitary Test before losing 2-1 in both the ODI and T20 series.
“That trip to India is going to be challenging in a number of ways. We are away over that Christmas/New Year period … but it is something that is super exciting,” Jonassen said.
“We were pretty disappointed with how we played over in the UK. We weren’t as clinical or sharp as we would have liked to be.”
Jonassen has re-signed with the Brisbane Heat for this season and the 2024-25 season. She is the captain of the WBBL side.
“There is definitely no thought of pulling the pin. I hope I am playing for a number of years yet,” she said.
“I am really proud to still be here at the Brisbane Heat. I don’t see myself playing for any other team.
“It’s two more years and hopefully a couple more off the back of that.”
Discussion about this post