Aussie Rising Star Tess Flintoff Secures Contract in a Decade-Defining Deal

Emerging all-rounder Tess Flintoff has made history by becoming the first woman in a decade to secure a Cricket Australia contract prior to her international debut.

While Flintoff’s star continues to rise, the journey of veteran all-rounder Jess Jonassen, a six-time World Cup champion, has faced a setback, resulting in her contract being dropped.

On Thursday, Cricket Australia (CA) revealed a roster of 18 players contracted for the 2025-26 season, with Flintoff and batter Georgia Voll joining the ranks, while Jonassen is now absent from the list.

The 22-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder from Melbourne, Flintoff, becomes the first woman since Beth Mooney and Grace Harris in the 2015-16 season to earn a CA contract before stepping onto the international stage.

“Tess is a thrilling young talent, and we see her having a significant future in the green and gold,” commented CA’s head of performance and national selector, Shawn Flegler.

“Having overcome injuries, we’re eager to watch her fit and firing this summer, which further enhances our pace-bowling options.”

Despite being recognised primarily as a bowling all-rounder, Flintoff achieved a stunning 50 runs off just 16 balls in the Women’s Big Bash League 2022, setting a new record for the fastest half-century in the tournament.

Voll, a 21-year-old from Toowoomba, has played in 10 international matches, which include six T20s, three ODIs, and one Test.

In one-day internationals, she has accumulated 173 runs at an impressive average of 86.50, with a standout innings of 101 against India in Brisbane last December.

Earlier this month in Sydney, she scored an unbeaten 137 runs for Australia A against England A.

“Georgia has had a spectacular beginning to her international career, demonstrating immense talent from the outset and playing a crucial role for the team in Alyssa Healy’s absence at the top of the order,” Flegler stated.

“Her adaptability across various formats has been remarkable, especially with the ODI World Cup coming up later this year and a multi-format series against India next year.”

Jonassen, now 32, has taken 244 wickets in international cricket with her left-arm orthodox spin.

“Even though Jess Jonassen hasn’t made this year’s list, we’re continually monitoring players outside the squad, and she remains in our thoughts,” Flegler added.

Cricket Australia’s contracted women’s players for 2025-26

Darcie Brown, Tess Flintoff, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham