The journey of Georgia Voll to become Cricket Australia’s Women’s Domestic Player of the Year for 2025 was pretty conventional. As a child who loved sports, she idolised rugby league legend Steph Hancock, dreaming of donning the Jillaroos jersey one day. Cricket was never part of life—until fate changed. A move to Brisbane during a pandemic led to an unexpected opportunity, one that saw her swap the rugby ball with a cricket bat. Cut to 2025, Voll isn’t just excelling in the sport—she’s inspiring a new generation of young girls across the country.
“I think that’s the main thing for me, inspiring the next generation in the way that I sort of carry myself on the field, but also off the field as well,” she said. “Playing with the Australian women’s team is something that you dream of. I think I’m living the dream to be honest with you, I can’t really ask for much more.”
Voll credited her family for their unwavering support in her journey to success. She recalled how her father tirelessly threw countless balls to her in the backyard, helping her hone her skills. Her mother made immense sacrifices, driving her from Toowoomba to Brisbane four or five times a week for nearly three to four years just so she could attend underage cricket training. She also adjusted her work commitments to ensure Voll had access to the best training facilities, playing a crucial role in shaping her career.
Australia demolished arch-rivals England in the multi-format series by a margin of 16-0. “The 16-nil whitewash was pretty cool to be a part of,” Voll said. Reflecting on the significance of playing at home, in front of her family, and in the place where her journey began when she made her debut for Queensland in 2020. In her second ODI, she showcased her talent by scoring a maiden century off just 84 balls. The achievement fueled her determination to remain a part of the history-making side.
“My big goal would be to [continue] to perform domestically first of all,” Voll said. “When I get the opportunity to pull on the Australian colours, take it with both hands and do the best job I can.”
Most recently, Voll grabbed the headlines by etching her name in history by scoring an unbeaten 99 not out for the UP Warriorz against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Coming in as a replacement for Chamari Athapaththu, the 21-year-old was left stranded on 99, where she missed out a golden opportunity to become the first centurion in the history of the tournament.
Former rugby league coach Lisa Croft said, “She always just had that natural leadership, natural ability, and she always thought strategically about the game. She just knew how to gather the girls and lead.”
The coach emphasized the importance of visibility in women’s cricket, highlighting how young kids, especially girls, now have role models to look up to on television and something to aspire to. Drawing from experience as a teacher, the coach expressed hope in having a positive impact on young athletes. Looking ahead, there was strong belief that one day, if given the opportunity, Georgia Voll would go on to lead her country.
“I sort of just try and work really hard and let the performances do the talking,” said Voll.
“I feel like I’ve got a long way to go in terms of proving myself,” she added after cricket commentators have labelled her as the next big thing in Australian cricket.
In what turned out to be a breakthrough season, Voll’s pursuit for more opportunities with the bat saw her switched from Brisbane Heat to Sydney Thunder prior to the 2024/25 Women’s Big Bash League season. The move paid off, as she excelled, scoring 330 runs in 12 innings. Voll’s highlight was when she hit an unbeaten 97, demonstrating her aggressive stroke play and flexibility. Her impressive strike rate of 144.73 highlighted her potential to score rapidly lower down the order.
Voll, in her short international stint so far, has put up a standout performance at the highest competitive level. The 21-year-old made an impressive entry into the international domain, showcasing her readiness for the biggest stage. Her breakthrough moment came in December 2024 when she was roped in as a replacement for the injured Alyssa Healy during Australia’s ODI series against India.
Making her debut at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, she displayed phenomenal temperament, remaining unbeaten on 46 runs. However, this was just the beginning for the rising start as she scored a historic second ODI at the same venue, delivering a remarkable performance with a commanding innings 101 runs off just 87 balls, including 12 boundaries. This maiden international century was a testament to her preparedness for the big stage. Her rise didn’t stop there, as she soon made her Twenty20 International (T20I) and Test debuts in the same summer, solidifying her status as one of Australia’s most promising young talents.
(Quotes sourced from abc.net.au)
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