Jess Jonassen left out of Bangladesh tour, Vlaeminck recalled after two-year hiatus

In a recent development, seasoned left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen finds herself out of the Australian squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of Bangladesh. Chief selector Shawn Flegler, however, assured fans that this omission doesn't mark the end of Jonassen's international career, hinting at potential future opportunities.

Jonassen, a familiar face in the Australian lineup since her debut in 2012, faced exclusion from the recent home series against South Africa, with coach Shelley Nitschke opting for other spin options. Flegler shed light on the decision and said that JJ's role has not been as strong in the team, attributing it to the impressive performances of players like Ash Gardner, Georgia Wareham, and Alana King.

"I think over the last couple of years, particularly over the last 12 months, JJ's role has not been as strong in the team. That's probably more to do with players like Ash Gardner having her game develop...and also players like Georgia Wareham with her skill set. Alana King's form as well over the last 12 to 18 months has been really strong," Flegler was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo.

Tayla Vlaeminck makes her comeback from injury after a two-year hiatus

The spotlight also falls on injury-prone Tayla Vlaeminck, who is set to make a comeback after more than two years. Having faced setbacks due to a dislocated shoulder and a stress fracture in her foot, Vlaeminck's resilience has earned her a spot in the 15-player squad. Flegler's emotional phone call delivering the news left Vlaeminck momentarily speechless, describing the moment as "a bit surreal."

"I think I lost the ability to speak for a moment there. It's something I've been pushing towards and it's given me motivation over the last couple of years. For it to actually happen, it felt a little bit surreal, to be honest," Vlaeminck said.

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Heather Graham, an all-rounder on the fringes of the Australian set-up, has missed out on selection for the Bangladesh tour. Flegler remains pragmatic about the decisions, emphasizing the dynamic nature of squad compositions, especially considering potential injuries leading up to the T20 World Cup in September.

"We've seen over the past few World Cups and Comm Games, we've had issues with injuries that come up at the last minute. So if you're not in the squad right now, you've just got to keep fighting and be ready if that opportunity does arise," Flegler concluded.

Australia's tour of Bangladesh comprises three ODIs and three T20Is, starting with the first ODI on March 21. This marks the first bilateral series in Bangladesh for the Australian women's team since 2014.