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Jonassen to miss start of Ireland tour due to COVID

Star spinner will miss the first two matches of Australia's T20 tri-series in Ireland after testing positive for COVID-19 on the eve of the squad's departure

Jess Jonassen will miss the start of Australia’s T20 tour of Ireland, after testing positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, on the eve of the squad’s departure for the United Kingdom.

The spin-bowling allrounder is isolating at home in Brisbane and will miss the first two matches of the four-game tri-series. The Queenslander will now fly to Northern Ireland next Monday to link up with the remainder of the touring party.

Tasmania allrounder Heather Graham has been called into the squad as back-up, and will arrive in the United Kingdom in the coming days.

The T20 tri-series, which includes two matches apiece against Ireland and Pakistan and begins on July 16, will serve as preparation for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, where Australia will begin their bid for a gold medal against India on July 29.

Jonassen’s absence from the first two T20 matches could open the door for another spin-bowling allrounder in Grace Harris – who earned a recall for Australia’s Ashes T20s against England in January in place of an injured Beth Mooney – or leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington.

The Australian squad arrived in Belfast on Tuesday, and have several days to prepare for their opening T20 against Pakistan on Saturday (1am Sunday AEST).

Australia's Tour of the UK, 2022

Australia's squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington

T20 Tri-Series

July 16: Australia v Pakistan

July 17: Australia v Ireland

July 19: Ireland v Pakistan

July 21: Australia v Ireland

July 23: Australia v Pakistan

July 24: Ireland v Pakistan

All matches start 4pm local time (1am AEST) and played at Bready Cricket Club, Derry, Northern Ireland

2022 Commonwealth Games

July 29 v India (11am local time, 8pm AEST)

July 31 v Barbados (6pm local, 3am Aug 1 AEST)

August 3 v Pakistan (11am local, 8pm AEST)

Group A: Australia, India, Pakistan, Barbados

Group B: England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka

Semi-finals: August 6, 11am local (8pm AEST) and 6pm local (3am Aug 7 AEST)

Bronze medal match: August 7, 10am local (7pm AEST)

Gold medal match: August 7, 5pm local (2am Aug 8 AEST)

All matches played at Edgbaston Stadium