Picture by YCCC. Jess Jonassen in the nets at The Kia Oval yesterday ahead of Yorkshire’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup clash with Surrey.
Overseas all-rounder Jess Jonassen says she is relishing the prospect of aiding Yorkshire’s development as a Tier 1 county over the next two years.
The experienced Australia international – she has played more than 200 times for her country and won all there is to win – has arrived in the Broad Acres on the back of winning the WNCL state title last month with Queensland, where Lauren Winfield-Hill was a team-mate.
With the White Rose having just been elevated to the top table of county cricket, though, this is perhaps somewhat of a different challenge.
Make no mistake, the end goal is to win titles and be the best there is in this country. But patience is required.
“As long as people are learning and developing as we go, that’s the main thing,” said Jonassen, ahead of her home debut against The Blaze at Headingley on Saturday, starting at 10.30am.
“Obviously, we set out to win every game of cricket we play, and I think that this team is going to win a number of games this year. Just looking at the talent that’s in that dressing room from some players who are so young, it’s really exciting.
“For me to be able to try and help play a small part in the wider group’s development, that’s something I’m incredibly proud to be a part of.
“Having known Lauren for a number of years, with her captaining here and the way she’s spoken about the club – and even speaking to Rich (Pyrah) as well.
Picture by Chris Hyde/Getty Images. Australian overseas signing Jess Jonassen in action for Queensland Fire.
“At this stage in my career, to still be doing something new and exciting, it’s really cool.
“It’s something I’d always wanted to do, to play county cricket. I’ve never really had the opportunity. So to be over here and be part of Yorkshire, I’m really, really pumped.”
She continued: “I think it’s just being a player that’s had a 13-year international career, it’s wanting to take a bit more responsibility.
“I’m someone who has always wanted to help contribute to my team’s success in any way I can.”
Jonassen’s White Rose career has started with back-to-back Metro Bank One-Day Cup defeats on the road to Somerset and Surrey.
In both games, they posted sub-200 totals batting, and in both almost defended them. They were certainly within a whisker at Taunton on Saturday when they lost by one wicket defending 179.
On Wednesday at The Oval, Surrey, chasing 193, were pegged back from 119-1 to 174-7 following a brutal 89 from opener Paige Scholfield.
“We’ve shown over these first couple of games that we’ve been far from our best but we’ve still challenged teams, we’ve taken things to the last couple of wickets,” said Jonassen.
Picture by YCCC. Jess Jonassen has signed on as overseas with Yorkshire for the next two seasons.
“At Surrey, for example, I’ve been part of teams who have been in that position and have rolled over and probably lost games by eight or nine wickets. To still keep fighting and showing up, that’s the main thing.
“That’s the test of the character, and that’s what you want
“They always say you learn more from your losses. As long as we’re doing that, it’s such a long summer and there’s a lot of games. So it’s quite easy to turn things around.”
Jonassen has struck twice and once so far with her left-arm spin and, batting at number three, has posted scores of 17 and 13.
“Even though it’s been mainly with the ball, I judge myself quite heavily on how I contribute with the bat as well,” she said.
“It’s been good to contribute, but I’m hopeful I can contribute much more than what I have been doing so far.”
Jonassen, aged 33, sat out a little over two months of the Australian summer – from late November to early February – because she required surgery on a right shoulder issue.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Vice captain Maddie Ward enjoyed a good day against Surrey yesterday courtesy of 20 with the bat and three wickets with the ball.
She returned in early February to finish the season triumphantly with Queensland. But, in the grand scheme of things, her lay-off means she comes over to Yorkshire pretty fresh.
“It’s never a good time to get injured,” she said. “But some times are kind of better than others. It wasn’t ideal, but it was something I needed to get sorted. It wasn’t manageable anymore.
“My goal was always to try and get through to the end of my summer back home, but it’s actually ended up really nice in the sense that I can be available and be here right from the start. And, having a bit of unexpected time at home, it’s been nice.
“But I think my wife was really keen for me to get going and get on the road again. She was starting to get sick of me!
“But, seriously, she’ll be coming over as well a few times.”
Jonassen, who made her international debut in early 2012, has not played for Australia since December 2023.
And although she has not retired from international cricket, she did admit: “I think I’m probably done with that.
“I think I’ve been shown that that door is probably well and truly closed on me, whether I want it to be or not. But, at the same time, whatever team I’m a part of, that’s my focus in that moment. I just want to be enjoying my cricket.
Picture by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images. Jess Jonassen in action for Australia against India in the T20 World Cup final at the MCG in March 20, which the hosts won.
“If an international call comes up again, so be it, but I’m not expecting it.”
The Blaze, beaten semi-finalists in all three competitions last year, started this campaign with a bang. They beat defending champions Lancashire in their first game at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.
Captained by Scottish spinner Kirstie Gordon, they are coached by former New Zealand men’s international Craig Cumming. Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast is their overseas player.
Ahead of Yorkshire’s first home game of the season, Jonassen added: “I’m really looking forward to it.
“Whenever I’d go and play at Headingley, I’d always be in the opposition. So I was saying to a few girls that it would be nice to have the Western Terrace finally on my side.”