Tahlia Wilson thriving in return to favoured role

A prodigious junior, the wicketkeeper has been forced to wait patiently behind the likes of Alyssa Healy.

As a result, she relied on her batting to break into the NSW and Sydney Sixers side, before a move to their cross-town rivals a year ago.

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This summer the Albion Park product has been handed the gloves full-time at the Thunder and she hasn't missed a beat.

"Coming into the competition, it's my first competition keeping since underage tournaments a few years ago," Wilson said.

"I've been happy with my glovework so far. It's been nice to fit into the keeping role well and be given the opportunity by the Thunder.

"It's also been awesome to work with captain Rachael Haynes and help her with the fielding positioning and other on-field jobs.

"My batting role has changed a bit this year. Last year I was at the top of the order, now I'm going out there a bit later and have to have positive intent.

"Now I'm trying to get our score up to a decent total to defend or help us chase down a target."

The WBBL is being played in a Sydney bubble, all teams staying together at the same hotel to reduce the threat of coronavirus.

That means rivals regularly cross paths, particularly in the dining room.

Healy may wear the magenta of the Sydney Sixers, Wilson in the Thunder's lime green, but that hasn't stopped the Australian wicketkeeper from helping her Big Bash rival, and NSW teammate, throughout the competition.

"Alyssa is a New South Welshmen, I train with her at the Breakers and she's been a really good support the last couple of weeks.

"She's let me know what it's like to keep in tournaments like this. You have quite a big workload, so it's awesome in helping me with recovery strategies, training loads and how I can use that to help get ready for games.

"She's been really supportive. It's good to have someone like that to rely on to help you out."

The Thunder have enjoyed a successful start to their 2020 campaign, the side poised to make a run to the finals.

Wilson acknowledges the remaining two weeks of the competition will be tricky, with a number of opponents desperate to keep their top-four spots alive.

With her side determined to continue improving before the finals, the 21-year-old is confident the Thunder will not suffer a late-season stumble.

"Every time each team plays us they find that extra gear. They know how much it means to beat a Sydney team and also to help them climb up the ladder,'' she said

"Every game will be tough from here, for us it's about consistency and always wanting to improve. We've had a good start to the season but there's always room for improvement, even the games we did win.

"We'll keep working hard at training and bonding off the field. If we all do our own jobs and keep looking after each other, the result will look after itself."