Georgia, 15, suffered a knee injury playing for youth girls’  football side Modewarre in May. It threw her cricket plans — making a Victorian team for the third straight year — in doubt.

But Georgia opted for ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS) surgery on her left knee, which slashed her recovery time and paved the way for selection in the state team for the under 18 cricket national championships in Ballarat in January.

“I have given up footy,” she said.

“I had to have a knee reco in the middle of the year. 

“It was too risky and I don’t want to get that injury again. It’s come along really well. I haven’t had any niggles.”

Georgia is one of three Western Waves players in the state team, along with Merino’s Claire Nolte and Brit Brit’s Alice Johnston.

The all-rounder, who is more comfortable bowling spin than with bat in hand, said she was proud to make another Victorian team.

“I was actually really surprised,” she said.

“Before it (the announcement) I was very nervous. 

“There are so many good players in the program and they are all very talented and I’m very lucky to be in the final 13.”

The Mortlake College student expects the jump from under 15 nationals, which she’s played the past two years, to be stark.

But she feels her solid preparation, despite the injury hiccup, will hold her in good stead.

Georgia was one of 15 up-and-coming talents named in a Cricket Australia under 15 development squad in February.

She spent a week in Brisbane last month fine-tuning her game as part of the high-performance program.

“I learnt lots of stuff from Australian coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick and a lot of other good coaches,” Georgia said.

Victorian under 18 coach Duncan Harrison said the state had assembled a strong team with no weak links and was well poised to do well at the championships, which run from January 14 to 20.

“The squad has been selected through an intensive process which included the winter academy training program, the country and metro series in Bundalaguah, where we played four matches, along with club cricket performances also being taken into account,” he said.

“We believe we have selected a very balanced squad, with all the skills sets covered with six pace bowling options, four spinners with nice variety including left-arm orthodox, a leg-spinner and two off-spinners, two wicketkeepers and tremendous batting depth through the group.”