Tayla Vlaeminck earns international recall as veteran spinner overlooked for tour of Bangladesh

The return of an injury-plagued fast bowler is the good news but the end could be nearing for a spin star who was overlooked for the tour of Bangladesh.

Australia selection chief Shawn Flegler urged veteran spin star Jess Jonassen to “keep working hard” as he managed the emotions of leaving the former world No.1 bowler out of the squad for Bangladesh while recalling injury-plagued fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck for the tour which could have significant World Cup implications.

Flegler praised the resilience of Vlaeminck, who is in line to play her first international match in more than two years, having been in the taxi in London with the now 25-year-old as she went to have x-rays on her shoulder last year.

It came amid a torrid run of injuries, with the fast bowler dislocating her left shoulder while playing for Australia A last year having already endured a stress fracture in her foot that ruled her out an Ashes series, a couple of World Cups and the 2022 Commonwealth Games that Australia won gold at.

Vlaeminck last played a T20 against England back in early 2022, but was recalled having “never given up” with her return coming ahead of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September.

“I had to drive Tay to get get an x -ray done on her shoulder when she did do it,” Flegler said on Tuesday having made the call that she was back in the squad.

“And, you know, we were just talking about, you know, the opportunities that would come up in the future and not to lose faith and keep working hard. And, yeah, I mean, she’s obviously been through some tough challenges over the last couple of years.

“I couldn’t speak more highly of her resilience and her work ethic and the way she just gets on and has a crack.

“She gives herself every opportunity and really really grateful that we can give this to her. I’m just really happy for her, she’s worked bloody hard to get to this point.”

She’s joined in the squad by Victorian teammate Sophie Molineux, who took 17 wickets in the WNCL this season and was rewarded with a shock call-up for the Test side that beat South Africa in Perth after she dealt with her own injury setbacks.

Tayla Vlaeminck made a successful return for Victoria in the WNCL. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

But amid the feel-good stories, the future of 31-year-old spinner Jonassen is up in the air having fallen out of favour in recent times. She played for Australia in December’s Test loss to India in India but didn’t feature in any of the seven home games against the Proteas.

It’s unclear what her international future looks like given Australia is blessed with a number of quality spinners who have made her surplus to needs in recent series.

“It’s a tough call for JJ. It’s probably the first squad that she’s missed out on in a long time,” Flegler said.

“Butt I think over the last couple of years, in particular over the last 12 months, JJ’s role has not been as strong in the team, and that’s probably more to do with players like Ash Gardner having her game develop and grow quite a bit over that time and taking more of those opportunities that JJ did have and also players like Georgia Wareham with her skill set and Alana King’s form as well over the last 12 to 18 months has been really strong as well.

“But the message for her is to keep working hard you just never know when the next opportunity is going to come and you need to be ready for that.

“So we’ve got a World Cup obviously at the back end of this year back in Bangladesh and we want to see JJ keep fighting and putting a hand up for selection which I know she will.”

Jess Jonassen was overlooked for the historic tour. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Australia will play back-to-back ODI and T20 series in Bangladesh for the first time, with the first 50-over game on March 21.

Australia squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris (T20s only), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (vc), Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck.