Former Mortlake player Georgia Wareham was named the 2019 Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year at Monday night’s Australian Cricket Awards.

Wareham, who was a member of the Australian Twenty20 World Cup winning team as a leg-spinner, played her first game of division one cricket for Mortlake in the South West Cricket Association (SWC).

Mortlake captain Todd Lamont said there was always something special about the talented teenager.

“She is very driven, she has always known what she has wanted and she has had great support behind her all the way,” Lamont said.

“I was amazed how skilful she was and she worked hard.”

Lamont said the road to the top was a tough one for Wareham.

He said playing senior cricket at a young age had provided good grounding.

“She certainly didn’t get any favours,” Lamont said.

“Even at training she faced the quickest bowlers and never took a backward step.

“When she first started playing division one there was a bit of giggling from the opposition if she got one of the lads out, but that very quickly stopped when they realised how good she was. It didn’t take long to gain everyone’s respect.”

In her acceptance speech, Wareham thanked her family and the Mortlake Cricket Club for the role they have played in her journey.