Now, 18 months on from her debut, she plans to become a regular fixture in South West Cricket's top grade.

The Port Campbell-based teenager is now 15 and eager to make an impact for Heytesbury Rebels when the season starts on October 17.

Good news story? Let us know!

"I played a game last year for them and it was really good, a good team environment," she said.

"It is a bit of a challenge but it's good to learn off them and they are all willing to help me. I can't wait, it's going to be so good being back playing. I have definitely missed it (during the off-season)."

Illingworth said playing in a men's competition, particularly at a young age, would fast-track her skills.

"It's really good because I get to bring it into the women's game and a lot of them haven't played men's cricket so it's a bonus for me that I have played both," she said.

Illingworth, who goes to Timboon P-12, has also represented Vic Country and would love to play domestically and internationally when she's older.

She is one of four south-west teenagers - Maddie Green (Port Fairy), Lila Wilkinson (Merrivale) and Hannah Rooke (Brierly Christ-Church) are the others - in the Vic Country under 16 squad.

"Hopefully in the next couple of years I'd really like to get a WBBL (Women's Big Bash League) contract, hopefully by the time I finish school," she said.

"My style is (suited to) the twenty20 format. I prefer to bat but am more used for my bowling."

The emerging all-rounder, who bowls pace, said being part of representative teams, including Western Waves, had piqued her interest in one day captaining a side.

Being a skipper interests her as it challenges "how you adapt to different situations and different players".

Click here to join our private group for The Standard subscribers to connect with each other and our reporters about what's making news in the region.

"It's been improving my cricket in general because I've been playing with some really good players and learning from them," Illingworth said.

"It's been the technical side of the game, putting in field placements."

The budding cricketer's off-season, which has been impacted due to coronavirus restrictions, has included thrice weekly running sessions and up to four gym workouts a week.