Australia’s dominance in women’s cricket over more than a decade means defeat in a global tournament is now considered a shock. Each blip on the radar at least gives a glimmer of hope to the chasing pack that the gap to the top might finally be closing.
Rather than overreacting to their humbling loss to South Africa in the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final in October, Australia have turned to the same approach that has worked so well for them in recent years – pushing aside any sense of panic or suggestions of a need to rebuild and calming picking the next young gun from their conveyor belt of emerging talent.
Georgia Voll has been touted as a future Australian international since joining Brisbane Heat as a promising 16-year-old. Like so many prospects that came before, the right-hander has been made to bide her time. Yet so impressive has she been since playing Australia’s three one-day internationals against India in place of injured captain Alyssa Healy earlier this month, Voll isn’t likely to give up her spot in the XI without a fight.
The now 21-year-old made an immediate impact with an undefeated fifty on debut against India, then staked her claim for a more permanent role with a maiden century in her second international. Voll opened in each of her three innings and amassed 173 runs against India to leave Australia with little choice but to add her to the squad now in New Zealand for three more ODIs starting on Thursday.
“It was nice to get the opportunity to open the batting, that was a major boost to feeling confident,” Voll says the day before the first ODI against the White Ferns in Wellington. “It was just about doing what I know works for me and backing what I’ve done in the last couple of years. It sort of just came together.
“I do enjoy opening. That’s the goal that I’d love to keep going, but obviously Alyssa Healy is a world-class player, so she slots right back in. But this whole team is world class, so it’s hard to crack any spot. To get the opportunity that I did was pretty cool.”
Voll is the latest proof Australia’s strong domestic depth is the foundation of their international success, especially after a WBBL season where she finished as fifth-highest run-scorer with 330 at an average of 30. Twelve runs ahead of Voll was her great mate Phoebe Litchfield, who was so often her batting partner in junior ranks and the last batter called into the Australia set up and become a permanent fixture.
It might be difficult for young players to break into the Australia outfit, but being made to wait and develop their game sets them up to then be part of the team longer term. Since 2020 only seven Australian women have earned a first international cap, with 22-year-old duo Hannah Darlington and Stella Campbell the only players from that group yet to kick on since their debuts.
“It’s just super professional,” Voll says. “You see the world-class players that Australia have, and they’re all playing for 10-plus years. That’s probably because playing in the WBBL, you’re playing against the best players in the world anyway, so I wouldn’t say it’s a massive jump up to international cricket.
“When you get in, it’s about doing the best job you can for the team, and if you’re a good person, you sort of get to stick around. The main thing behind the success is the environment, because everything that they do is professional and they work really hard.”
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Voll had to overcome a serious hamstring injury after moving to Sydney Thunder as a prized recruit for this year’s WBBL. She concedes it took time to understand why confidantes like Australia stalwart Beth Mooney had told her the adversity would prove a blessing in taking the next step into the elite level.
After building her form across five WBBL seasons then turbocharging it in the Australia squad, Voll has finally been able to brush off any lingering doubts she might have been better suited to rugby league. Voll was selected to represent the Queensland women’s under-18 team, before the Covid-19 pandemic postponed those plans and the Heat came calling.
“I started playing netball when I was about five or six but I didn’t like it because there was no contact, so I signed up for the local footy team and played with the boys,” Voll says. “That was up until I was 12, and at that point the girls couldn’t play anymore. I had to try a few different sports, and that’s when I found cricket. I do still have that little itch to put the boots back on, but I don’t think that’ll be happening again anytime soon.”
