How Diamonds netballer Sarah Klau nearly lost her trademark cool in lead-up to World Cup
She was very polite but World Cup bound netballer Sarah Klau nearly lost her trademark cool on the phone recently.
Cool, calm and collect - three traits which will earn Swifts netballer Sarah Klau her first Australian cap when she takes the court for the Diamonds at the World Cup this month.
But Klau says her trademark poker face and composure under pressure was seriously tested when she received a call from coach Lisa Alexander to confirm her “out of the blue’’ Australian selection.
“I was so serious and sick about it before the call,’’ said the young defender who is studying for her Masters in occupational therapy.
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“I wasn’t expecting the good new so when I heard, it was a dream come true.
“I wanted to scream in happiness, yell, but I had to stay cool and just quietly say, ‘oh, thank you’. I was very polite but I just wanted to scream as loud as I could.”
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Klau became Diamond No. 177 when she took the court in Australia’s emphatic first-up win over Northern Ireland.
However she watched from the bench as Australia beat Zimbabwe in their second match.
Coach Lisa Alexander said pre-tournament she planned to give all 12 of her players court time in the preliminary rounds of the Liverpool tournament but will stick with specific line-ups later in the tournament if they are performing.
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“I am so nervous, so excited,” said Klau, who headed to the UK this week to start final preparations.
“Hopefully I get the chance to show Australia what I can do. I am going to get goosebumps. It will be a huge honour.”
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For the first time the new Australia uniform for the World Cup has on it the names of every netballer who had previously played for the Diamonds.
The Diamonds are hunting their 12th world crown in the UK and their fourth straight title.
While No.1 on the world rankings, the Diamonds have been keen to hand pre-event favouritism to the hosts.
England last year pulled off the biggest upset in international netball in recent years with their one goal defeat of Australia in the Commonwealth Games.
Only seven players from that team have made it to the World Cup.
TV
All Diamonds matches will be on Nine’s Wide World of Sports.
All World Cup matches will be streamed live on 9Now.
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