Australian opener Georgia Voll credits an off-season Big Bash switch as the sliding doors moment that prompted her rapid ascent from domestic prodigy to global superstar.
The 21-year-old has become one of the sport’s most in-demand stars following a “whirlwind” six months, headlined by a breakout WBBL campaign, Australian debuts across all three formats and a maiden Women’s Premier League appearance.
Last week, Voll was snapped up by the Birmingham Phoenix for a cool $133,000 in the Hundred Draft, days after blasting the equal-highest individual score in WPL history. And on Friday, the Queenslander clobbered her maiden T20I fifty during Australia’s eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in Auckland.
Suddenly, she looms as the leading candidate to replace Alyssa Healy in the national set-up when the Australian captain decides to hang up the boots.
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“It’s been such a whirlwind last six months, and something that I definitely didn’t expect,” Voll told Fox Cricket.
“It’s definitely a pinch-me moment, knowing that I’ve been all over the world, was part on an Ashes, something that you dream of as a kid, to be able to pull on the green and gold in all formats, go over to India and play one of the big biggest comps in the world.
“It’s been pretty cool.”
Eighteen months ago, Voll was batting at No. 9 in the Brisbane Heat’s WBBL team, serving predominantly as a bowling all-rounder. During the off-season, the right-hander was approached by Sydney Thunder boss Trent Copeland and offered the chance to switch allegiances, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal.
It proved a career-altering decision.
“I always sit back and think about how important that move to the Thunder was and ultimately it’s kicked off my career,” Voll said.
“That’s one of the best moves that I’ve made in my career so far.”
Voll was named in the WBBL’s team of the tournament after accumulating 330 runs at 30.00 with a strike rate of 144.73, helping the Thunder qualify for the knockouts.
Ahead of the WBBL finals, Voll received her maiden Australian call-up, chosen as Healy’s injury replacement for December’s ODI series against India — and in her second appearance donning the green and golf, she cracked an 87-ball 101 in front of friends and family at Allan Border Field, announcing herself on the international stage.
The talent had always been there, but Voll chalked up her recent success to unlocking her blueprint for opening the batting – being unafraid of taking the game on while playing low-risk cricket.
“The one thing that has stuck with me is just knowing the way I want to play my cricket,” Voll explained.
“I’ve been trying to find that for the last couple of years, and to be able to sit back and say, ‘Yeah that’s the way I want to play it,’ and continue to back that in each format has been something that’s stood out for me.
“My goal when I’m opening up the batting is to set the team up so we can make those really big scores. That’s the way my mind is. But probably in the last six months, it’s come together nicely and it’s paid off.”
After helping Australia claim a historic 16-0 Ashes whitewash, which included a Test debut against England at the MCG, Voll was called up as an eleventh-hour replacement player for the UP Warriorz in the WPL.
However, she was required to fly out of the country before Queensland’s WNCL final against New South Wales – and in her absence, the Fire lost by 21 runs.
“It was definitely a bit of a bittersweet moment,” said Voll, who last month was named Domestic Player of the Year at the Australian Cricket Awards.
“There were ideas being thrown around that I get on a 2am flight after the final, but that obviously didn’t eventuate.
“Personally I would’ve loved to be there and play it and do both, but the reality of it is you can’t do everything all the time.”
In her WPL debut, Voll was bowled through the gate by West Indies veteran Deandra Dottin for a second-ball duck as the Warriorz suffered a demoralising 81-run loss to the Gujarat Giants in Lucknow.
Her own harshest critic, Voll felt as though she had left the team down.
“After the first game, I had a little bit of self-pressure to actually do something,” Voll said.
“I was pretty disappointing in the first game. I had to make sure I put my best foot forward for the team in the last two (matches).”
And that’s exactly what she did.
After scoring a stylish half-century in her second WPL match against event champions Mumbai Indians, Voll created global headlines by smacking 99* (56) against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Lucknow. The record-equalling knock featured 17 boundaries and a six, with a run out on the final delivery of the innings denying her a deserved century.
“It was pretty special,” Voll said.
“It was just nice to set the innings up for our team … to be out there and bat for the 20 overs is probably not something you do in T20 cricket a lot of the time.
“Obviously the crowds over there are huge, so to be able to do that in front of that many people, it was pretty surreal. Probably haven’t played in front of that many people ever before.”
A few days later, perhaps while battling jet lag, Voll woke up at 1.30am to find a text message from her manager — she had just been chosen as the first pick in the Hundred Draft. Combined with her WBBL salary, upgraded Cricket Australia contract and a potential WPL pay day, it makes her one of the sport’s highest-paid athletes.
“I must’ve had the intuition to wake up,” Voll laughed.
“I had a little look on my phone and saw that I got picked up first which I definitely didn’t think would happen. It’s nice to be a part of that, and I’m really looking forward to getting over there.”
Healy, who turns 35 this week, has remained coy about her international future beyond next summer’s multi-format series against India, meaning a potential vacancy opening up in Australia’s starting XI within the next 12 months.
And Voll is mounting an irresistible case to become Healy’s heir apparent.
“That’s the goal,” she declared.
“At the moment I’m very happy with filling in when I can and just doing the best I can to fill in for Midge while she’s going through her injury.
“But obviously looking forward, that’s something that I’d love to do. I’d love to open the batting for Australia, it’s obviously been a dream of mine for a really long time, so to even do it as a replacement for now is pretty exciting.”
Following the T20 tour of New Zealand, which wraps up on Wednesday, Voll will travel to Sydney for Australia A’s 50-over series against England A. After that, her focus turns towards the ongoing renovation of her new property in Brisbane.
“Originally I was just going to paint it and move in … but the more we pulled the little things apart, the more we found,” Voll explained.
“Lucky my brother and dad are both builders so they’re taking the reins and I’m standing there acting like I’m doing something.
“I’m sort of the bank, so they just take my money and I pay for it.
“It’s their little project over the next few months. Hopefully I’m able to move in before the Hundred, that would be ideal.
“They’re doing it around their actual work, so hopefully it doesn’t take too long, but I can’t really ask them to go any quicker when they’re just doing it as a little side hustle.”
The second T20 between New Zealand and Australia gets underway at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval on Sunday at 12.45pm AEDT.
