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In the lead-up to Australia’s Test match against India
in January, left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen has been attentively observing
master of the art Ravindra Jadeja.
For the first Test match played on Indian soil since
1984, India will host Australia starting on December 21 in Mumbai, and
31-year-old Jonassen is doing everything in her power to seize the chance.
Along with fellow spinners Ashleigh Gardner, Alana
King, and Georgia Wareham, Jonassen was selected for the three-format trip,
which will also feature three Twenty20 Internationals and One Tests.
After collecting four wickets for Brisbane Heat in
their 53-run victory over Hobart Hurricanes on Wednesday, Jonassen became the
first player in the WBBL history to reach 150 wickets. Her career total now
stands at 152.
Left-armer Jonassen is a student of Jadeja’s cunning
tactics, while Jadeja is a regular for India.
“Jadeja has just got incredible control of his
pace into the same length. His ability to beat both sides of the bat is
probably second to none,” Jonassen told AAP. “That is something I
will be hoping to emulate myself when I can get over there to India. Hopefully
I can have a few spells like he has had in his Test career.
“I used to watch a lot of [former New Zealand
spinner] Dan Vettori but in the current climate Jadeja is the bowler I look to.
I have been watching him in the 50-over World Cup in India.
“It is a bit different in the sense that [the
men] bowl a bit quicker than we do but in some respects it is still very
similar with what I am trying to execute and achieve.”
Jonassen acknowledged competition for spinning spots
on tour would be intense but is relishing the challenge
“Whenever [selection] becomes official it is
always exciting and always nice and I am really proud to be part of such an
historic trip,” she said. “We have some really talented spinners in
the squad and we are all going to be licking our lips to get the nod.
“Ultimately the balance of the side will dictate
that. We will keep a close eye on the India-England Test match that will be a
week or so prior to ours at the same Mumbai venue. That will give us an idea of
what conditions may be like for our game.”