Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander will share the load among players at World Cup
Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander won’t shy away from sending even her most inexperienced members into battle before the finals series at the netball World Cup.
Every Diamond will get the chance to impress prior to the finals series of the netball World Cup, with coach Lisa Alexander revealing she will send even her most inexperienced members into battle at the UK tournament.
After a week long camp in Sydney, Alexander declared her team ready to play and defend their world title as Netball Australia and the NSW Government confirmed their bid for the 2027 netball World Cup.
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While happy to blood players and extend the experience of others early, Alexander said form will rule in the business part of the event with a new tactic potentially coming into play for Australia — sticking with the starting seven for an entire game.
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“I think our 12 have enormous firepower and capability and we can use our bench to great ability,” said Alexander, who has traditionally rotated players in high-stakes games. “But we will not use it (the bench) just for the sake of it. This is a very different approach for us.
“If there is a team on out there that we like we are going to keep them out there.”
Alexander and players worked hard at a camp this week to ensure everyone is physically and mentally prepared for the intensity and rigours of a full 60 minutes of netball.
But Alexander said she will share the load around in the preliminary rounds as the Diamonds ease into the tournament with games against the unheralded Northern Ireland, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. It is unlikely they will be tested until the crossover of pool in their fourth game.
“Absolutely we want to get everyone out early,” Alexander said.
This policy will see numerous Australian players make their World Cup debuts in Liverpool, including Giant Jamie-Lee Price, Vixen Kelsey Brown, Swift Sarah Klau and Firebirds shooter Gretel Tippett.
The Diamonds side has been picked on form rather than reputation and is significantly lighter on experience than major rivals England and New Zealand.
Only seven of the 12 who competed at the Commonwealth Games remain and only three — Caitlin Bassett, Caitlin Thwaites and Paige Hadley — were in the side which won the last World Cup in Sydney in 2015.
Netball is hoping to snare the 2027 World Cup to coincide with the centenary of the Netball Australia organisation. Minister for Sport John Sidoti said the campaign is part of a commitment to bid for 10 World Cups for the next decade.
The goal is to host the event at the Netball Centre at Sydney Olympic Park and the upgraded Ken Roswell tennis arena. However, officials also want games to be played in “outer metro sporting hubs”.
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