‘A power game like no other’: Thunder star Georgia Voll predicted to dominate at the top of the order in her Australian debut

A bold decision has paid off for Georgia Voll, who has made the WBBL team of the year and will make her Australian debut next month.

She grew up making the long trip from Toowoomba to Brisbane several times a week.

But a bigger move from the Heat to the Thunder has paid off handsomely for Georgia Voll, who will make her international debut next month and open the batting for Australia with great mate Phoebe Litchfield.

The pair rocked up to their media commitments at Drummoyne Oval on Tuesday morning proudly wearing badges of each other having just been named in the official WBBL team of the year alongside Thunder veteran Sam Bates.

“She’s one of my great mates and I wore this so everyone can see that she’s always with me,” Voll replied when asked about the badge with Litchfield’s face on it.

“To be able to potentially open the batting with her for our country is so special.”

Georgia Voll will open the batting alongside Phoebe Litchfield against India next month. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

The pair only have to wait a couple of weeks for the first of three ODI matches against India where they’ll get the chance to walk out to the middle together, something they did plenty of times in the junior ranks.

It’s a huge reward for Voll, who struggled for opportunities at the Heat but has starred at the top of the order with two scores in the 90s and a career-high 310 runs in the regular season.

She replaces the injured Alyssa Healy at the top of the order for the India series, and Litchfield can see plenty of similarities between the aggressive right-handers.

“It probably hasn’t hit us both and it’ll probably feel a bit foreign when we do it,” the Thunder skipper said.

“I’m so excited. When you get along with a player, it makes batting so much easier. I’m really pumped to play with her, and opening the batting together for Australia is just absurd.

“(She’ll bring) power and authority at the top of the order. It’s kind of mirroring Midge (Healy) in a way that she strikes the ball as cleanly as anyone in Australia at the moment and has a power game like no other.

“I’m so glad for her. I was really keen to get her to the Thunder having played with her in underage cricket. She’s a star and she’ll definitely play for Australia for a long time.

“I just find the Thunder is the place of opportunity. I got a go when I was 16, and I probably wouldn’t have had a go at any other team that I could have signed for.

“It’s definitely shaped the cricketer that I am, so I’m glad she saw the light and came to the green. Look what happens.”

Phoebe Litchfield is one of three Thunder players in the WBBL team of the year. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Voll, 21, batted down the order at the Heat but has played a crucial role for the Thunder who host the Hurricanes on Wednesday night to open the finals series.

“The biggest part for me was getting a fresh opportunity and playing with some new people and working under different coaches,” she said.

“It’s been nice to be able to thrive in this environment because I’ve loved it down here. That’s when I know I’m playing my best cricket – when I’m enjoying myself.

“When I first got down here, it was literally about that and then the cricket would take care of itself. It’s nice to be able to perform in some games as well.

“I never thought it’d lead to an Aussie call-up, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re enjoying yourself and your cricket.

“Nothing has changed too much.

“I don’t think I played my best cricket up in Brisbane. Being up and down the order was pretty hard for me, but to get the opportunity down here where I’d open the batting, I jumped at the bit and was super keen to get down here.”