‘It does rock you’: Jess Jonassen’s admission ahead of ODI World Cup final

Jess Jonassen is preparing to play in her first ODI World Cup final, but it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the Aussie superstar.

Jess Jonassen is gearing up to play in the World Cup final. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

Jess Jonassen admits being dropped mid-World Cup “rocked” her, but the superstar Aussie bowler is now as determined as ever to make her mark in Sunday’s do-or-die final against England.

The top-ranked WODI bowler in the world, Jonassen was left out of Australia's XI to face New Zealand in the group stage.

She was reinstated after Australia’s win and went on to play in every remaining match on the road to the final, but Jonassen admitted her shock axing was nonetheless difficult to swallow.

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“It is always tough,” she said.

“It’s never a nice thing, to be the one to have to miss out. It does rock you a little bit.”

Jess Jonassen has played 85 WODIs for Australia. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

However, Jonassen said she put faith in the big picture and resolved to do what was best for the team.

“Nobody likes being left out of sides. Everybody trains, everybody comes away to try and get out on the field. When you don’t, it is disappointing, but you know there is still that bigger picture mentality,” she said.

“In order to win a tournament like a World Cup, it takes a whole squad, not just the same 11 players.

“The girls performed incredibly well in that game against New Zealand and ultimately, everyone who’s been able to come in … has been able to do the job for the team. Ultimately, that’s the most important thing.”

Jonassen said she was jumping at the chance to play in her first ODI World Cup final after missing Australia’s most recent appearance in 2013 through injury.

“It’s pretty cool to be able to get through to the final,” she said.

“A World Cup final against England, it doesn’t get much bigger.”

Australia has won every game on its road to the World Cup final. Picture: Marty Melville / AFP

Australia is the top-ranked WODI side in the world and will head into Sunday’s final the hot favourite.

The Aussies have won their last seven clashes against England, having not lost to the old foe since October 2017, but Jonassen says the team can’t afford to become complacent.

“Any game that we come up against England is always a really tight contest. Our very first game of the World Cup was against them and came down to the last over,” she said.

“Coming into this final, we know that they’re going to be coming out at us really hard. “They’ve got some real big matchwinners, but equally so do we. We’ve been building really nicely leading into this final.

“I think we’ve been playing some really consistent cricket, which is really nice. Different people have been standing up at different times, which I think holds us in good stead.”

Jonassen said she was unsure whether Ellyse Perry, who missed Australia’s last two games with back spasms, would line up for the final.

“From all reports she’s going to train in some capacity (on Friday) and then I’m sure the medical team will see how she pulls up and make an assessment from there,” she said.

Originally published as ‘It does rock you’: Jess Jonassen’s admission ahead of ODI World Cup final