Georgia Voll's field of dreams boosts healthy crop of Australian talent

“I’m not the sort of person to let it hit me,” Voll said of her international debut. “I didn’t want to let the moment and how special it is get to me and make me more nervous or worried about what the outcome was. It was just to enjoy myself and play the way that I had been playing to get me to that position.”For that to work out and come off the way it did was pretty awesome. But my mindset was just to back myself and watch-the-ball-hit-the-ball. That was my role coming into it and I wanted to do that the best I could.”Having close friend Litchfield there made the moment all the more special, but it also allowed Voll to retain a sense of normality.”We’re really good mates from [age-group] cricket and it was sort of a ‘pinch me’ moment when we could walk out there a couple of weeks ago and opened the batting for Australia,” Voll said. “That’s something I’ve dreamed of doing and she would’ve dreamed of as well. That we are both there after doing it in Under-15s five, six years ago, to do it at the highest level is awesome.”Litchfield, who scored 60 in a 130-run partnership with Voll as she scored her maiden international century, was delighted for her friend but not surprised.”I know how good she is,” Litchfield said. “There’s so many batters in domestic cricket at the moment who could easily play international cricket, it’s just who is the best one and Volly has definitely earned her place and it’s tough to keep her out of the side.”She’s really just taken her opportunity. You don’t really know long you are going to play for with Midge [Healy] coming back from injury, so to take her opportunity and earn a spot in an Ashes squad is so awesome. It’s a credit to the Cricket Australia pathway, really, domestic cricket is world-class and she’s fitted seamlessly into international cricket.”Georgia Voll was drafted into Australia’s white-ball squads for the Ashes•Getty ImagesVoll was drafted into Australia’s white-ball squads for the Ashes when allrounder Sophie Molineux went out with a knee injury. Healy returned in a batting capacity in New Zealand as Beth Mooney kept wicket, and Voll’s Ashes role could be limited, but a 42-ball 57 for the Governor General’s XI on Thursday opening alongside Healy, who scored 38, will have done her chances of making an appearance no harm.Alongside the likes of Litchfield and in-form 23-year-old allrounder Annabel Sutherland, Voll is at the core of a bright future for Australia which, coupled with a wealth of experience remaining in their line-up, has the hosts looking dangerous ahead of the first ODI against England on Sunday at North Sydney Oval.”That’s something we’ve been speaking about, our depth,” Litchfield said. “It’s allowed me, Alyssa Healy and Georgia Voll to go out there and actually play shots. Traditionally you use the first ten [overs] to consolidate, but we are actually going at sixes and taking the game on to know our depth will back us up.”And Voll is ready to continue her development from the best position imaginable, whether that’s in the dugout or middle.”I’m just there and waiting if they need me,” Voll said. “Obviously it’d be super, especially if I could get out there, but I’m also happy just to be around the group and soak it all up as it’s such a big and special occasion.”You always sit back at home and you watch it and you hope one day that you’ll be there. To be here as a player is pretty special, something that you dream of, and the rivalries between Australia and England are big in all sports, but to have the chance to be a part of an Ashes series is special, especially being at home. I’m looking forward to getting in amongst it and hopefully we can get some wins as well.”