Fran Jonas had to wait a little longer to get to school on Wednesday morning.
She was already going to be a late arrival at Baradene College, as she had to train with the Auckland Hearts at Eden Park Outer Oval ahead of their Super Smash elimination final against the Wellington Blaze on Thursday.
But she was delayed a few minutes more, as she had to speak to the media about another special moment in her fledgling cricket career her first callup to the White Ferns, for their one-day international series against England that begins in two weeks time.
When she got the call on Tuesday, she was hanging out with a friend in Auckland Domain We both were just like, whoa, what the heck? then went and celebrated with a cookies and cream ice cream.
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But on Wednesday, after training, the 16-year-old was fully focused on the task ahead.
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White Ferns captain Sophie Devine is excited by Fran Jonas potential.
There’s going to be a lot going on, but I just want to keep it simple and just learn as much as I can.
Jonas made her debut for the Hearts in December 2019, when she was only 15, but shes already claimed some big scalps in domestic cricket, including her new international team-mates Amy Satterthwaite and Katey Martin.
This season she has taken six wickets in the Super Smash and nine in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield one-day competition with her left-arm spin a point of difference that has excited many around the New Zealand cricket scene.
White Ferns captain Sophie Devine is one of those excited about the youngsters potential, and is looking forward to teaming up with her, after they go up against each other in Thursdays do-or-die Twenty20.
We’ve seen in international cricket that left-arm spinners are particularly effective, so we know that she’s going to be a real threat there, Devine said.
She’s got a great head on her shoulders I was really impressed with her last year during the Super Smash, just the way that she was able to keep a really cool head under pressure, which I think is something that can be hard to train.
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Brooke Halliday could make her international debut for the White Ferns against England.
Jonas was one of eight players handed a New Zealand Cricket development contract during the winter a reward that has come with extra work in the form of keeping a training diary.
The White Ferns have had plenty of experience with teenagers among their ranks in recent years all-rounder Amelia Kerr has been a fixture since she was 16 and Devine said they were looking forward to welcoming Jonas next week.
We know it’s going to be a pretty intimidating time, to come from the Auckland side, where she’s probably a bit comfortable, because she’s been there for a few years now, and make that next step up.
Absolutely we’re going to wrap around her and make sure that she feels really comfortable and confident because at the end of the day, all we want her to do is to do what she’s been doing.
That’s the message that we’re going to keep giving to her keep backing yourself because that’s why you’ve been picked.
Northern Spirit captain Brooke Halliday also received her maiden callup on Wednesday, while Canterbury Magicians skipper Frankie Mackay has been recalled and is in line to play her first ODI since 2014.
All-rounder Suzie Bates and seamer Rosemary Mair were both unavailable for selection with shoulder and side strain injuries respectively.
England completed their 14-day stay in managed isolation in Christchurch on Tuesday and have started training in Queenstown.
They will have a pair of warm-up matches on Sunday and Tuesday against a White Ferns XI consisting of many of the players named in this squad before the start of the three-match ODI series at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on February 23.
Spark Sport’s new cricket commentator Sonia Gray
White Ferns v England one-day international series
White Ferns squad: Sophie Devine (c), Natalie Dodd, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Frankie Mackay, Katey Martin, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu
England squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt
Fixtures
Tuesday, February 23, 2pm: 1st ODI, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Friday, February 26, 11am: 2nd ODI, University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Sunday, February 28, 11am: 3rd ODI, University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
