The New South Wales keeper-batter has been named the WNCL player of the season after a prolific time with the bat
AAP27-Feb-2025Australian cricket’s hard-luck story Tahlia Wilson will seek advice from selectors, after the WNCL’s player-of-the-tournament was narrowly overlooked for next month’s T20s in New Zealand.Wilson was the unlucky woman to narrowly miss out on Australia’s squad this week, with Nicole Faltum to tour as back-up wicketkeeper given Alyssa Healy is unavailable.Related
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While Faltum is not expected to play given Beth Mooney will wear the gloves, the selection is a clear eye to the future for life after Healy and eventually Mooney.Selectors admitted on Wednesday it had been a tight race, with Wilson and West Australian wicketkeeper Maddy Darke unlucky to miss out.Albeit in a different format, Wilson has been the stand-out of the 50-over WNCL this summer, with 667 runs at an average of 60.63 while taking a more proactive approach at the top.Her recent scores of 112 not and 142 have helped take New South Wales to Sunday’s final against Queensland, where they will attempt to win their first title in six years.Wilson said she had not heard from chief selector Shawn Flegler about the decision, but remained positive on her long-term prospects.”I haven’t actually heard anything around that, but I’m sure over the next few weeks, I will try and get into contact to see what’s going on,” Wilson said. “Probably a few months ago now, I was in touch with Shawn Flegler around what my role is and where he sees me going into the future.”It’s definitely all positive. I definitely think the race was tight, and Nic definitely just got the nod over me this time. Every time something like that comes out, obviously you want to be the one to be in that position, but at the same time I think Nic’s had a pretty good season as well.”
When asked about Faltum’s selection on Wednesday, Flegler pointed to her T20 form in the WBBL, wicketkeeping and Australia A output. Faltum has also made scores of 90, 82 and 52 in recent weeks for Victoria in the WNCL, and has long been identified as one of the next players in line.With Faltum and Wilson both aged 25 and Darke 23, the time is right for the trio to press claims given Healy is now aged 34 and Mooney 31.”I remember talking to Alyssa Healy, probably last year,” Wilson recalled. “She said, ‘you know what, you’re actually the prime age because obviously I’m a little bit older than you’. She said, ‘just keep sticking at it and you’ll probably come around at the right time’.”So I feel like it’s awesome I’m scoring runs now, and that’s probably helping me stay on their radar … one day, hopefully, we’ll make it.”Wilson’s career-best form has come as it emerged Ellyse Perry would move home to NSW next year from Victoria. Perry is unlikely to play many matches for NSW around Australian duties, but will act as a mentor for the state’s younger players.
