Australia announce squad for Women's T20 World Cup 2024; no place for 'unlucky' spinner with 96 wickets as pacer gets preference

Cricket Australia (CA) on August 26 announced their squad for ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024. Alyssa Healy will be leading the team in T20 World Cup for the first time as Australia target record-breaking fourth consecutive title.
 

Australia's in-form spin all-rounder Jess Jonassen did not find a place in the squad. Jonassen has 96 wickets from 105 T20Is. 
 

"Jess Jonassen is again unlucky to miss out, but we've been impressed with the way she's bounced back, and we'll continue to monitor her form ahead of the home summer," said chief selector Shawn Flegler.
 

In her place, pacer Tayla Vlaeminck has been included in the squad. This is going to be Vlaeminck's first World Cup since 2018. She has struggled with injuries which have led to her getting ruled out of major ICC events. She will form a formidable pace duo with Darcie Brown who has recovered from her foot injury. 
 

Vlaeminck has 17 wickets from as many T20Is. She recently featured in the T20 series against India A and bagged one wicket from two games. She was impressive on Bangladesh tour taking four wickets from two games including 3/12.
 

"This is the first time in a long time we've had our entire contract list available for selection ahead of a World Cup and it's resulted in a really stable and balanced squad," Felgler said.

ALSO READ: Babar Azam disappoints again, gets bowled playing his favourite shot against 21-year-old Bangladesh pacer; watch video
 

"Phoebe Litchfield is a real x-factor for us and will be well supported by an experienced group at her first World Cup," he added. "The pace duo of Tayla Vlaeminck and Darcie Brown is one we've been wanting to unleash for a while and is a real point of difference for us."

ALSO READ: Joe Root surpasses Rahul Dravid, Allan Border with gritty 62, 5 fifties away from breaking Sachin Tendulkar's all-time Test record
 

Other players making a comeback after injury are Grace Harris and Sophie Molineux. Before travelling to UAE for the T20 World Cup 2024 in October, Australia will host New Zealand for a three-T20I series. Heather Graham who is part of the T20I squad against New Zealand did not make the cut for the T20 World Cup.
 

Australia's Women’s T20 World Cup squad –

Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck
 

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