Coach Shelley Nitschke reacts to 'fighter' Jess Jonassen’s WPL success after Australia snub

Jess Jonassen has not been named Australia’s squad upcoming tour to Bangladesh and head coach Shelley Nitschke has termed it a ‘tough decision’. The left-arm spinner lost her place in the Australian team due to inconsistent performances in international cricket. Notably, the tour to Bangladesh holds massive importance as the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup is to take place in the same region.

Meanwhile, Jonassen was sensational in the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL), as she has picked 11 wickets in six matches and is currently the second-leading wicket-taker in the tournament. Nitschke stated that she is not surprised by Jonassen’s incredible comeback, calling her a "fighter".

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“It was a tough decision and she was very disappointed. To see how she's responded in the WPL, to me it's no surprise she's done that. She's a real fighter. Certainly not surprised with how she's going about that and making a statement which is exactly what we like to see,” Nitschke told ESPNcricinfo.

“It's really tough to leave out a player like JJ who has been around for a long time. She has been a great servant for us. But she's certainly not out of the mix. She's showing exactly what she is capable of over in the WPL which has been fantastic to watch,” she added.

When it comes to spin options, Australia have the likes of Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Alana King and Sophie Molineux. King recently made her return for the first time since the T20 World Cup in 2023 and she would be under close observation in Bangladesh. In case the spinner fails to make a mark, there is room for Jonassen to make her return in the near future.

“We've got a few things to look at and make decisions on, there's a little bit of time to go between now and then," Nitschke commented on the matter.