Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Yorkshire women’s coach Rich Pyrah, amidst the celebrations as his side won the Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2 title last September.
Yorkshire’s new overseas signing Jess Jonassen has made a full recovery from shoulder surgery before Christmas, with head coach Rich Pyrah saying: “It’s great to see her back.”
All-rounder Jonassen returned to action early last month, playing twice in the Australian domestic WNCL competition for Queensland.
She has the potential for three more 50-over matches for her state, including a final, before flying over to Headingley to embark upon the first year of a two-year overseas deal with the White Rose county.
Jonassen underwent surgery on her right shoulder at the start of December and was expected to be out for around three months.
“We knew that Jess would probably recover quicker than people thought,” said Pyrah. “What we didn’t realise was that she would play again as early as she did, which was obviously a big bonus for everyone.
“She’s playing now with no pain in the shoulder that she’s had trouble with for a while, so really positive for her. And, you know, the more cricket she can get under her belt before she comes to us, the better.”
Jonassen, who bowls left-arm spin and bats in the top order, has been capped 204 times across all formats for Australia.
Picture by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images. Jess Jonassen is heading to Yorkshire next month to begin a two-year overseas deal.
“She’s like a three-phase player for us, really,” said Pyrah.
“She’ll bat in the top five, she bowls left-arm spin which we were lacking within the squad and just the experience of what she’s done in the game – won multiple World Cups, Ashes series.
“To have that within our group is going to be just as valuable as the cricketer she is.
“It’s exciting to add that to the group, and for the girls to be around someone like that full-time for the whole summer.
“I’m sure they’ll be hanging off every word she says and watching her train. It’s all part of the girls’ development as well as signing someone of that quality.”
Jonassen’s good news has been supplemented by some bad news, particularly around the fitness of fellow spin-bowling all-rounder Olivia Thomas, who is set for a period on the sidelines.
“Liv has got quite a bad stress reaction in her shin – her tibia bone,” explained Pyrah. “It’s not a fracture, but it’s quite a bad hotspot.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. All-rounder Olivia Thomas is set to miss the start of the season due to a shin injury.
“She had a little stress reaction in the same shin, which we managed her through and shut her down for a couple of weeks. But it’s come back and is a bit worse.
“She’s totally shut down at the minute, and it’s probably unlikely she will be fit for the start of the season, which is a big blow for her and for us.
“Liv is a very good cricketer. She showed that last year with bat, ball and in the field. She’s a fiery competitor and somebody you want in your team.
“She’s got that bank of performances behind her, but she’s gutted at the minute because she wanted to prove herself in Tier 1. But we’ll just have to be patient, not rush things and make sure we get her right. We don’t want to set her back for another couple of months.”
Another spin-bowling all-rounder Sarah Glenn is currently sidelined with a broken finger, sustained during a recent England training camp in Stellenbosch.
Pyrah, however, said: “I’m sure she’s going to be ok for the start of the season.
“The word is that hopefully Glenny will be available early-season for us before the squads are picked for a series against New Zealand in May, leading up to the T20 World Cup.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Seamer Grace Hall is back bowling following shoulder surgery late last summer.
Having started this piece talking about Australian Jonassen, who has recovered from shoulder surgery, we will end the article with another who has done likewise. Fast bowler Grace Hall.
“Yeah, Grace had shoulder surgery at the back end of last summer,” added Pyrah. “But she’s back bowling now, which is great to see.”