17-strong Diamonds squad announced for International Test Series

Samsung Australian Diamonds head coach Lisa Alexander has today announced the 17-strong squad to form the teams for the 2018 Quad Series and Constellation Cup in Australia and New Zealand this September and October.

This year’s International Test Series will be the last time Australia play on home soil before the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England from 12-21 July next year.

Alexander said the group had learnt from the recent Commonwealth Games campaign and are now focused on the 2018 test matches and the build-up to the 2019 World Cup.

“We are working with this squad to deliver winning performances and we have faith in our systems to accomplish that.

“The squad selected by national selectors Michelle Wilkins, Annie Sargeant and myself is ready to challenge each other to be better, innovate and continue to learn.

“Ultimately we have selected a squad we think is best placed to deal with the rigors of international netball and seize the major moments when they present,” Alexander said.

The Diamonds squad features nine athletes from the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games campaign led by captain Caitlin Bassett (Sunshine Coast Lightning) and vice-captain Gabi Simpson (Queensland Firebirds).

New faces in the Diamonds setup will include NSW Swifts defender Sarah Klau and centre court players Jamie-Lee Price (Giants Netball) and Jess Anstiss (West Coast Fever).

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Renae Ingles returns to the national squad for the first time since 2015 after coming back to club netball with the Melbourne Vixens in the 2018 Suncorp Super Netball season.

Both the 2018 Quad Series and Constellation Cup teams will be confirmed on 31 August following the Suncorp Super Netball grand final, with additional players able to be selected prior to the start of the International Test Series.

The Diamonds will start their Quad Series campaign on Saturday 15 September against the South African Spar Proteas in Auckland before coming-up against the England Roses for the first time since the Commonwealth Games in Newcastle on 19 September.

The Diamonds last game in Australia will take place in Townsville, hosting an international netball game for the first time against the New Zealand Silver Ferns on 10 October.

Tickets for the International Test Series are still available via https://netball.com.au/tickets.

A full schedule for the 2018 Quad Series and Constellation Cup can be found here: https://netball.com.au/fixtures-results.

2018-19 Samsung Diamonds Squad:

Goalers:

First Name	Last Name	State of Origin	Caps	Club
Caitlin	Bassett	WA	83	Sunshine Coast Lightning
Tegan	Philip	VIC	12	Melbourne Vixens
Caitlin	Thwaites	VIC	41	Collingwood Magpies
Gretel	Tippett	QLD	16	Queensland Firebirds
Stephanie	Wood	QLD	15	Sunshine Coast Lightning

Centre Court:

First Name	Last Name	State of Origin	Caps	Club
Jessica	Anstiss	WA	0	West Coast Fever
Renae	Ingles	VIC	67	Melbourne Vixens
Kate	Moloney	VIC	3	Melbourne Vixens
Jamie-Lee	Price	NSW	0	Giants Netball
Kim	Ravaillion	NSW	57	Collingwood Magpies
Gabi	Simpson	NSW	32	Queensland Firebirds
Liz	Watson	VIC	22	Melbourne Vixens

Defenders:

First Name	Last Name	State of Origin	Caps	Club
April	Brandley	NSW	28	Collingwood Magpies
Courtney	Bruce	WA	17	West Coast Fever
Sarah	Klau	SA	0	NSW Swifts
Emily	Mannix	VIC	3	Melbourne Vixens
Jo	Weston	VIC	17	Melbourne Vixens

Quad Series:

The Netball Quad Series is contested twice a year between the Samsung Australian Diamonds, New Zealand Silver Ferns, England Roses and SPAR South Africa Proteas. It began in late 2016.

Constellation Cup:

The Constellation Cup is an annual series contested between the Samsung Australian Diamonds and the New Zealand Silver Ferns.

Diamonds Team Stats:

Combined test caps: 413
Most test caps - Caitlin Bassett (83)

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games team members: Caitlin Thwaites, Caitlin Bassett, Kim Ravaillion, Gabi Simpson, April Brandley, Courtney Bruce, Liz Watson, Joanna Weston, Stephanie Wood

Netball World Cup Sydney 2015 team members: Caitlin Bassett, Caitlin Thwaites, Renae Ingles, Kim Ravaillion

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games team members: Caitlin Thwaites, Caitlin Bassett, Renae Ingles, Kim Ravaillion