Australia Women have suffered a major blow on their ongoing tour of India, with premier spinner Jess Jonassen being ruled out of the remainder of the five-match T20I series with a hamstring injury.
The 30-year-old sustained the injury while fielding during Australia’s nine-wicket win over India in the first T20I in Mumbai on Friday, on a day she returned 0/18 from two overs. Jonassen, the second ranked-bowler in the ICC women’s ODI bowling rankings and the ninth in T20Is, has bagged 87 and 82 wickets in the respective formats till date.
“Unfortunately Jess sustained a right hamstring strain while fielding during the match on Friday,”
physiotherapist Kate Beerworth said on Sunday.
“She’s since been assessed and it’s evident that the timeframes required for a return during this series are too short.
“Jess will be unavailable for the remainder of the series and will return to Brisbane to continue her rehab.”
Leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington has been called up as Jonassen’s replacement after having narrowly missed out on the original 15-member squad. She is expected to reach Mumbai on Tuesday, with the third T20I to be played the following day.
Australia, powered by Beth Mooney’s 89* in a dominant top-order show, won the series opener by nine wickets before Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh’s heroics helped India clinch the second T20I with a win in the Super Over after a thrilling tied finish, and with it, level the series 1-1. It was Australia women’s first defeat of the year.
