Jess Jonassen picks her favourite team for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024; also reveals four semi-finalists

Australian cricketer Jess Jonassen has revealed her top picks for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, along with her predictions for the four semi-finalist teams. The ninth edition of the tournament will begin on October 3, 2024, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), featuring matches in Dubai and Sharjah. Notably, Jonassen herself will not be part of Australia’s 15-member squad, as a strong spin-bowling group featuring Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Alana King and Ashleigh Gardner has been preferred for this edition.

Jess Jonassen’s choice and first semifinalist: The front-runner to win the T20 World Cup title

While Australia are traditionally seen as a powerhouse in women’s cricket, Jonassen believes that India holds the upper hand in this edition of the T20 World Cup. She emphasized India’s depth and versatility, which, combined with their superior knowledge of the UAE’s playing conditions, positions them as front-runners. Despite Australia’s knack for excelling in big tournaments, Jonassen pointed out their lack of experience in UAE conditions, something she feels will give India a significant advantage. According to Jonassen, Australia has played on different subcontinent pitches, but the UAE presents a unique challenge, making India the team to beat in the upcoming tournament.

“India is well and truly a front runner. The depth of players and versatility that they have in their sport that’s over there. I guess they’re experiencing conditions in the UAE as well, which is something that Australia is also getting, as we’ve never played in the UAE before. So yes, we’ve played in different subcontinent pitches and conditions, but I think no relative knowledge will be a challenging factor. We’ve been under another illusion that the pool that the Aussies are in is one of the toughest ones. But in saying that, I don’t think there’s going to be a single easy game in this entire World Cup, which is super exciting,” Jonassen was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

The three-other semifinalist

Jonassen, despite backing India as the front-runners, didn’t overlook Australia’s prowess. The Australian team has consistently performed well in major international tournaments, and Jonassen expressed confidence in her home country’s ability to adapt and rise to the occasion. While she won’t be a part of the squad this time around, due to Australia’s strong spin-bowling lineup, Jonassen highlighted the hard work and preparation of her teammates since their victory in the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa. She acknowledged that although Australia has faced challenges recently, their ability to thrive under pressure and their statistical dominance in big tournaments make them a formidable force in the competition.

“In terms of the top four teams, I have to say my own country Australia. I’ve seen first-hand how hard everyone has worked, not only over this pre-season. Since that South Africa T20 World Cup (win) as well (in 2023), obviously a little bit of change. But I feel like the squad and the girls have been building nicely for this World Cup. There’s been a few series where we haven’t quite performed well the way we wanted to. But seeing the performances that they’ve been putting in and the hard work that they’ve been doing – I think when it comes to World Cups and big tournaments, statistically no one’s better than Australia,” the left-arm spinner remarked.

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Well-prepared with experience in similar conditions

Jonassen’s third pick for the semi-finals is England, a team known for its strong performances on the world stage. She mentioned that England’s pre-season camp in Oman has prepared them well for the conditions in the UAE, which are similar to Oman’s playing conditions. England’s experienced lineup, featuring world-class players like Sophie Ecclestone and Nat Sciver-Brunt, makes them a serious contender for the tournament. Jonassen praised the team’s consistent form and their ability to adapt to the conditions, which will be crucial in the UAE.

“England’s obviously always up there as well and definitely the third team. They’re currently over there for a pre-season camp and they always take camps to Oman and from my understanding, the conditions are quite similar in the UAE. They have a really experienced side as well and some of the best players in the world are part of their side in Sophie Ecclestone and Nat Sciver-Brunt,” the Australian bowler added.

Recent form make them a threat

Rounding off Jonassen’s semi-finalist picks is Sri Lanka, a team that has recently been in stellar form. Sri Lanka’s victory in the Women’s Asia Cup, where they defeated India in the final, showcased their potential to perform on the global stage. Jonassen highlighted key players like Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samawickrama, who have been instrumental in Sri Lanka’s success. With recent series wins and the confidence from their Asia Cup title, Jonassen believes Sri Lanka could be a dark horse in this tournament, capable of causing upsets against top sides.

“Fourth for me, it’s almost a bit of a tie, but I’m not going to sit on the fence and going with Sri Lanka to be fair. Obviously the most recent Asia Cup champions as well, they’ve won some series and games against some top sides. To think that they’re actually in a bit of a purple patch at the moment and really performing really well. Obviously, Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samawickrama as well, the way that they’re performing and they’ve brought back (Inoka) Ranaweera as well for a little bit of experience in the bowling department. But in those conditions, if any one of those players sort of fire, they’ll actually be quite a challenging opponent,” Jonassen concluded.

The battle ahead: A tournament of high stakes and competitive teams

As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on the 10 participating teams as they navigate the challenges posed by the UAE’s conditions. Jonassen’s selections – India, Australia, England, and Sri Lanka – reflect a blend of experience, form, and adaptability, with each team bringing something unique to the table. While Australia aims to secure their fourth consecutive title, India seeks to improve on their runners-up finish from 2020. England, the inaugural champions of the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009, will be looking to reclaim the title, while Sri Lanka enters the tournament as the reigning Asia Cup champions, hoping to continue their winning momentum on the global stage.

Also READ: 5 New Zealand players to watch out for in Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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