Diamond must perform in Quad Series says coach Lisa Alexander ahead of South Africa opener
PLAYERS heading into Saturday’s test against South Africa have been warned to perform or risk losing their spot in the Diamonds.
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PLAYERS heading into Saturday’s test against South Africa have been warned to perform or risk losing their spot in the Diamonds.
The match against South Africa in Auckland is the first in a Quad series where Australia will also take on New Zealand and England.
This series will be followed by the annual Constellation Cup between Australia and New Zealand.
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Australian coach Lisa Alexander says she will introduce new players into the Diamonds 12 for next months Constellation Cup if any fail to perform in the Quad Series.
“They have been put on the notice, they know they must perform,” Alexander said.
“They will be replaced for the Constellation Cup if they do not perform.”
The Diamonds have not played an international since losing their defence of the Commonwealth Games gold to England by a single goal in April.
The team playing in New Zealand boasts nine players from the Commonwealth Games following a mass retirement of senior players this year.
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Gone from the Games side is shooter Susan Pettitt, defender Laura Geitz and midcourter Madi Browne with shooter Gretel Tippett, defender Emily Mannix and midcourter Keeley Browne in for the big-name retirees.
“We have taken a deliberate strategy of leaving in nine players from the Commonwealth Games to give them an opportunity to push on,’’ Alexander said of only introducing three players to the Diamonds side.
“We don’t want to be affecting our ranking at all. We want to stay at No.1. The goal, as usual, is to win.’’
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The Diamonds take on South Africa in their first game of the Quad series in Auckland on Saturday.
They will then play a rematch of their Commonwealth Games decider against England in Newcastle on Wednesday before taking on New Zealand in Melbourne next weekend.