The workers are in charge of the socialist republic of netball

Caitlin Bassett with Scott Morrison in the days when there was just one captain

There’s been a revolution in netball. Caitlin Bassett has been overthrown as Diamonds captain and the workers are in charge.

The Diamonds will go into the Constellation Cup against traditional rivals New Zealand without an individual captain, instead adopting a “new squad leadership approach”. Everyone gets a say.

“Rather than appoint an ongoing captain or leadership group, all athletes within the squad will have the opportunity to lead the team, allowing the new coaching panel and Netball Australia to explore and maximise the group’s leadership potential,” the socialist republic of netball said in a statement.

The statement said “all athletes within the squad will have the opportunity to lead the team, allowing the new coaching panel and Netball Australia to explore and maximise the group’s leadership potential”.

New Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich says the move is designed to “encourage collective leadership” before any permanent decision is made.

To meet International Netball Federation rules, a captain will have to be appointed for each of the four Constellation Cup matches against the Silver Ferns. Assumedly, that avoids the whole team having to run out for the coin toss.

It’s not clear how each captain will be chosen – perhaps by a ballot of players.

“This approach isn’t about diminishing about what’s been done in the past,” Marinkovich said.

“One thing that has become clear within this new squad is that the players and coaching staff don’t want to put any limitations on what can be achieved by the group, so this leadership approach for the Constellation Cup series will encourage collective leadership across the squad and provide us with the opportunity to really identify our strengths and areas for development.

“We have only had limited time together as a full squad due to COVID and there are so many Super Netball leaders within this squad, so this approach is all about maximising that skill set within the group and encouraging all athletes to be leaders regardless of how long they have been part of the squad.”

Marinkovich and the Diamonds are in Christchurch, completing 14 days hotel quarantine.

The Constellation Cup matches will then being played at Christchurch Arena on Tuesday, March 2 and Wednesday, March 3 and then at Tauranga on Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7.

The 2020 Constellation Cup was postponed due to the impact of COVID-19 on international travel. Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand are hoping to complete two Constellation Cup tournaments in 2021, one in March and one in October.

Additional reporting: NCA NEWSWIRE