Both Albion Park products, Wilson was just 10 at the time Sablowski - nee Eastham - wore the first of two Commonwealth Games gold medals in Dehli a decade ago.

Even in the Women's Big Bash League Covid-19 bubble in Sydney, Wilson had a stick among her cricket bats, a reminder of home and welcome change of pace during the Thunder's relentless march to the title.

"We know the family well, coming from Albion Park as well, we were all part of that community and hockey was a big part of my life," she said.

"I looked up to her as a role model.

"When you see someone play at the top level and how she developed as a player, it shows you what's possible."

Sablowski finished her elite career with three Olympics, as well as two Champions Trophy silver medal and a runner-up finish in a World Cup.

Wilson's path twisted from hockey fields to cricket pitches, but her career trajectory is taking a similarly remarkable upswing.

A wicketkeeper and bat, the 21-year-old was part of last Saturday's grand final victory over the Melbourne Stars at North Sydney Oval.

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Crucially, she took the catch to dismiss Australian captain Meg Lanning, after she had earlier been given a life.

It helped set the Thunder on course to restrict the top-of-the-table stars to 9-86 from their 20 overs, chasing the runs with seven wickets and 6.2 overs in hand.

"Yeah, it was a pretty big moment to get the Australian captain out," she said. "They had a couple of chances and there were a couple of other half-chances as well, so I just had to hold on to that.

"It was a really big wicket, but we just felt like we knew we were on top early and had to keep pushing."

Heather Knight (26 not out) and captain Rachel Haynes (21 not out) finished the job, after openers Tammy Beaumont (16) and Rachel Trenaman (23) put them on course to win.

"What a feeling, it's still pretty surreal now to be honest," she said.

"We've got a pretty young group and a lot of people in the lead-up were unsure about how we would go.

"I was trying to take my head out of the game while we were batting, we ticking the runs off in 10s, but you couldn't help but keep an eye on the scoreboard as we got close. It was fitting that Heather and Rachel were there at the end, they've played so well throughout the tournament."

The Big Bash glory is just the start of Wilson's career ambitions.

In coming weeks, NSW captain Alyssa Healy will take over the wicketkeeping duties and Wilson return to the outfield for the rest of the domestic summer.

At 30, Healy was player of the final in Australia's Twenty20 World Cup victory over India in front of a packed MCG before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

It seems a different world then, as pop star Katy Perry performed as part of one of the biggest occasions in the history of women's sport.

As with Sablowski as a guiding light, Wilson is now hoping to follow in Healy's footsteps and become Australia's next top wicketkeeper and batter.

"In under age tournaments I was a keeper, but it's been a while since I've had the gloves in a competition," she said. "So it was great to be behind the stumps again.

"I enjoy that role of being able to help out the captain with field and angles and seeing what the ball is doing.

"In the long-term, that would definitely be a goal to play and keep for Australia, it's something I'll work towards."

In a previous chat with the Mercury, Wilson opened up on how Healy - who played for the Sixers - had been a great support for her development.

"She's let me know what it's like to keep in tournaments like this," Wilson said.

"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 only downside to the Thunder's triumph was a lack of time at the crease while batting at No.7.

If called upon, Wilson would be chancing her arm at the end of an innings, an unbeaten 15 her highest score for the tournament.

But her batting credentials are underpinned by a debut for St George-Sutherland in the Sydney premier league last year, where she amassed 471 runs at the breathtaking average of 235.5.

In the process she earned the women's player of the season award.

It was the sixth edition of the Women's Big Bash League, the Thunder taking out their second title, having previously won the inaugural season in 2015.

Haynes top-scored with 37 then, in a Thunder team led by one of the great Australian players in Alex Blackwell.

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The Thunder, arch-rivals Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat now have two trophies each.

By nature, Twenty20 leagues result in a lot of movement for players on short contracts, as Wilson's Thunder teammate Sammy-Jo Johnson is proof.

Johnson played in the previous two grand final wins with Brisbane.

Wilson moved across town from the Sixers to the Thunder and the Covid-19 quarantine bubble helped bring them together to be a title-winning force.

"We're a young squad, it would be great to stick together and build on what we've done this season," she said.

"You look back at the first Thunder team and the great names like Heather and Alex Blackwell, it's pretty awesome to be able to achieve something like this.

"They had their nucleus together in whatever teams they played, so hopefully we can do the same and be back there next season.

"With the way the year was and the quarantine hub, it was great to make the most of it."