Dilemma for Aussie T20I selectors

[Nergal]

 

Australia coach Matthew Mott admits Jess Jonassen’s return to fitness is set to cause some headaches for selectors at November’s Women’s World T20 in the Caribbean.

Jonassen was named in Australia’s 15-player squad for the ICC tournament on Tuesday, pending fitness as she recuperates from knee surgery.

The Queensland left-arm spinner is one of the best at her craft in world cricket and is a logical inclusion as soon as she’s fit and ready.

But in her absence, fellow left-armer Sophie Molineux produced a breakthrough T20I series against New Zealand, stepping into Jonassen’s considerable shoes during the power play and at the death.

The 20-year-old Victorian, who made her T20 debut in India earlier this year, captured four wickets at 15.25 during the three-game series, and only Megan Schutt came close to matching her economy rate of 5.08.

“I thought her series was pretty close to perfect,” Mott told cricket.com.au.

“For a young player, she got better every game.

“A couple of times she got lined up by the Kiwis and she herself said she got a bit floaty, but when she got into the wicket and brought the pitch into play I thought she was as hard as anyone in our attack to face."

With the Caribbean wickets expected to favour the slower bowlers, there’s no reason Jonassen and Molineux can’t line up in the same XI – as they did on three occasions during the India T20 tri-series in March – but just who would make way for Jonassen will give selectors plenty of food for thought over the coming weeks.

“So I’m really impressed with Sophie and when JJ does come back, there’s going to be some really tough selections because we’ve got a bowling group in really good form,” Mott said.

With Jonassen not available for the three-game one-day series against Pakistan beginning in Malaysia next week, Molineux is now poised to add a maiden one-day international cap to her collection.

“She’s a very crafty bowler for someone so young,” Mott explained.

“She can spin the ball past the bat and slide on at different times.

“She seems to be able to read the batters exceptionally well and if they’re moving around the crease, she’ll take the best option at the right time.”