WBBL 2024: Brisbane Heat's Jess Jonassen Praises Shikha Pandey's Significant Contribution to Bowling Lineup
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New Delhi, Nov 28 (NationPress) Brisbane Heat captain Jess Jonassen has expressed admiration for the influence of veteran Shikha Pandey on the team's performance in the current WBBL Season 10. She emphasized that the experienced Indian fast bowler has greatly enriched the squad by sharing insights on various aspects of the game.
Despite not being part of the Indian team since the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup, Shikha has taken 12 wickets across 10 matches for the Heat this season, earning a place in the WBBL’s team of the tournament, thus becoming the only Indian player to achieve this honor.
“Having the international caliber of someone like Shikha Pandey around, who can discuss fast bowling strategies, tactics, and plans with local players, has significantly enhanced our pace bowling attack. I believe many of the girls have truly flourished under her guidance,” stated Jess Jonassen, the seasoned Australian left-arm spinner, in an interview with cricket.com.au.
The club is currently enjoying a five-match winning streak in the tournament and features Indian top-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues in their line-up for the upcoming challenger match against Sydney Thunder for a chance to reach the final at Allan Border Field on Friday.
The victorious team from Friday’s encounter will face the Melbourne Renegades in the final at the MCG on Sunday. “I think the only concerns were from those outside our group. We’ve managed to silence some skeptics, but we are far from finished in proving our capabilities,” added Jonassen.
“This is indicative of the progression of women’s cricket and the professionalization of the sport. Player movement is becoming a norm. This highlights the strength of our domestic structure here in Queensland, which consistently produces remarkable talent. Almost every franchise in the competition includes at least one Queenslander, and that’s something we take immense pride in as an organization,” concluded Jonassen.
