Fran Jonas Explained

Frances Cecilia Jonas (born 8 April 2004) is a New Zealand cricketer who plays for Auckland as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler. In February 2021, Jonas earned her maiden call-up to the New Zealand women's cricket team, for their Women's One Day International (WODI) series against England in February and March 2021.

Career

Jonas is a left-arm orthodox spinner.^[1] She started playing cricket at the age of six, and until the age of 10, she played in boy's teams.^[1] She has played for Cornwall Cricket Club in Auckland, New Zealand,^[2] as well as the New Zealand under-22s indoor cricket team.^[1]

In December 2019, at the age of 15, Jonas made her debut for Auckland Hearts in the 2019–20 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.^{[1] [3]} She took three wickets in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield final, as Auckland Hearts beat Northern Spirit.^{[1] [2]} She was at one point in the season the fourth highest wicket taker in the 2020–21 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield,^[4] with nine wickets.^[3] Jonas also took eight wickets for Auckland Hearts in the 2020–21 Super Smash competition.^[2]

In September 2020, Jonas was given a development contract by the New Zealand women's cricket team; she was the youngest player to receive a development contract.^{[1] [5]} In January 2021, Jonas was named in the New Zealand under-19s squad for matches against a New Zealand Police women's team and a New Zealand provincial team, to take place between February and April 2021.^[6] In February 2021, Jonas earned her maiden call-up to the New Zealand women's cricket team, for their three-match Women's One Day International (WODI) series against England.^{[7] [8]} As part of the preparation for the series, she played in two warm-up matches for the New Zealand XI Women's team, taking two wickets.^{[9] [10]} She made her WODI debut for New Zealand, against England, on 23 February 2021.^{[11] [12]}

In March 2021, Jonas was named in New Zealand's Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) squad for their series against Australia.^[13] In February 2022, she was named in New Zealand's team for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.^[14] In June 2022, Jonas was named in New Zealand's team for the cricket tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.^[15] Jonas made her WT20I debut on 30 July 2022, for New Zealand against South Africa at the Commonwealth Games.^[16]

In December 2022, Jonas was selected in the New Zealand Under-19 squad for the 2023 ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup.^[17]

In September 2024 she was named in the New Zealand squad for the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.^[18]

Jonas was named in the New Zealand squad for their ODI tour to India in October 2024.^[19]

Personal life

Jonas was a student at Baradene College of the Sacred Heart.^[1] Her elder brother is also a cricketer, and her father is her coach.^[1]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Just 16, and rising cricket star Fran Jonas already has Hearts in a spin. Newsroom. Stuff. 14 September 2020. 21 February 2021.
2. Web site: Brooke Halliday and Fran Jonas – who are they?. Women's Cric Zone. 19 February 2021. 21 February 2021.
3. News: Teenager Fran Jonas celebrates maiden White Ferns callup with an ice cream. Stuff. 10 February 2021. 21 February 2021.
4. Web site: Cricket: Fran Jonas and Brooke Halliday named in first White Ferns squad . New Zealand Herald . 21 February 2021.
5. Web site: Jess Watkin, Katie Gurrey and 16-year-old Fran Jonas handed NZC development contracts. ESPNcricinfo. 18 August 2020. 21 February 2021.
6. New Zealand Women to field under-19 side for first time. The Cricketer. 22 January 2021. 22 February 2021.
7. Web site: New Zealand Women pick Brooke Halliday and 16-year-old Fran Jonas for England ODIs; Suzie Bates ruled out . ESPN Cricinfo . 21 February 2021.
8. Web site: New Zealand Announced ODI Squad for England Series, Brooke Halliday and Fran Jones gets Maiden Call . Female Cricket . 21 February 2021.
9. Web site: Dominant openers, experienced seamers and unknown quantities: The key battles as England face New Zealand . The Cricketer . 21 February 2021.
10. Web site: White Ferns out to halt horror ODI trot when they meet England . Stuff . 21 February 2021.
11. Web site: 1st ODI (D/N), Christchurch, Feb 23 2021, England Women tour of New Zealand . ESPN Cricinfo . 23 February 2021.
12. News: Battling White Ferns thumped by England in first one-day international. Stuff. 23 February 2021. 26 February 2021.
13. Web site: Fit-again Lea Tahuhu returns for ODI series against Australia . ESPN Cricinfo . 21 March 2021.
14. Web site: Leigh Kasperek left out of New Zealand's ODI World Cup squad . ESPN Cricinfo . 3 February 2022.
15. Web site: Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze earn maiden New Zealand call-ups for Commonwealth Games . ESPN Cricinfo . 20 May 2022.
16. Web site: 3rd Match, Group B, Birmingham, July 30, 2022, Commonwealth Games Women's Cricket Competition . ESPN Cricinfo . 30 July 2022.
17. Web site: White Ferns Spearhead First-Ever NZ Under-19 World Cup Squad . New Zealand Cricket . 13 December 2022 . 13 December 2022 . 13 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213215526/https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/white-ferns-spearhead-first-ever-nz-under-19-world-cup-squad/ . dead .
18. Web site: Devine and Bates set for ninth consecutive T20 World Cup . New Zealand Cricket . 3 October 2024.
19. Web site: Inglis earns maiden WHITE FERNS call-up - Down continues ODI return. New Zealand Cricket. 9 November 2024.