With the Sydney Thunder's arrival in Wollongong approaching, Tahlia Wilson knows she is fast running out of time.
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After making the switch to the Thunder in the off-season, the Albion Park resident has experienced a frustrating start to the summer.
A stunning 95* for NSW in the opening round of the Women's National Cricket League was followed by a quad injury suffered in training just prior to the start of the Women's Big Bash.
That injury forced her out of the early rounds of the WBBL and she has been unable to crack the starting XI in the weeks since.
With the Thunder set to take on Adelaide at North Dalton Park on Wednesday November 20, Wilson is hopeful of turning out on her home turf.
"It will be really awesome to head home," Wilson said. "This match will have such a great impact on cricket in the Illawarra. It will expose the women's game to even more people and help develop the sport.
"Getting injured is always tough, you don't want it to happen but unfortunately it's a part of sport. It's a matter of managing it, doing the right rehab work, the right strength work and I was able to get back in better time than expected.
"I'm not quite sure if I'll get back into the side, it's quite a tough lineup to crack. The girls have had a few good wins of late so we'll see how it goes. Hopefully I can get on the park."
Wilson has watched on as her Thunder teammates have soared to the top of the WBBL ladder, the side unbeaten since a first-round loss to the Sixers.
The wicket keeper-batter's next chance to crack the Thunder side will come Sunday, when her team plays the Perth Scorchers in Adelaide.
While she admits it's been frustrating to be injured, the 20-year-old said it's been great to be a member of such a talented, close-knit squad.
"It's been a pretty fun start to the season. They're a great group of girls to spend time with and learn from, so travelling with them has been a lot of fun.
"It's been really awesome watching the girls do so well. We're quite a new group that's come together, so to see everybody bond and connect on the field and off the field, the off-field connections have shown in our on-field display."
Wilson is at the forefront of a youth movement currently sweeping through women's cricket, with the likes of 16-year-old Thunder teammate Phoebe Litchfield showing the future of the sport is in safe hands.
For Wilson, one of the biggest positives of the WBBL is the fact youngsters are able to play alongside and against seasoned veterans, such as Thunder teammates Rachael Haynes and Alex Blackwell.
"At every training session we're trying to improve as much as we can and learn from the experienced players. Anything we can learn from players like Rachael Haynes and Rene Farrell will help you in every game.
"They help us develop new aspects of our game and provide us with new experiences. It makes you more prepared for any situations that do arrive."
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