Diamonds focused on World Championships not revenge in first Test
New World Netball Series - 1st Test New Zealand Silver Ferns v Australian Diamonds Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North, New Zealand Thursday, 9 June 2011, 7:40pm (local time), 5:40pm (AEST) Broadcast: Channel TEN 11:00pm
The Australian Diamonds will be lining up against the New Zealand Silver Ferns for the first time since their defeat in the 2010 Commonwealth Games' gold medal final but revenge couldn't be further from their minds.
With less than a month until the 2011 World Netball Championships, the Diamonds are firmly focused on the future, undeterred by the 66-64 double extra time loss in New Delhi in October last year.
"Obviously a lot has changed since (the 2010 Commonwealth Games)," Diamonds shooter Natalie Medhurst said ahead of the first Test on Thursday.
"It was a massive game for us to lose and by such a small margin, but it's so exciting now to be moving forward with the World Championship coming up.
"We've got such a different team to work with and try different combination out there on court, so as bad as the Commonwealth Games experience was, we certainly have to get over that and move forward and start out preparation for World Championships starting tomorrow."
The new look Diamonds team sees only seven players return from the Commonwealth Games campaign after coach Norma Plummer took the opportunity to select fresh faces following injuries to stalwarts Sharelle McMahon and Lauren Nourse.
With three uncapped players in the Diamonds side in Erin Bell, Sharni Layton and Chelsea Pitman, the two-Test series against the Silver Ferns provides the perfect opportunity to fine tune the team ahead of Singapore.
"We've already shown in these few days we've had together that everyone is combining really well and the players we've got provide a lot of different combinations and different styles of play for the coaches to fall back on," Medhurst said.
Lead by Natalie von Bertouch, her first Test as captain after being appointed in April, the Diamonds will be looking to claim their 60th Test victory over the Silver Ferns.
Honours are split between the Diamonds and Silver Ferns in the two previous Test matches held in the North Island city of Palmerston North with Australia winning the first meeting 47-44 on May 21 1994, followed by New Zealand winning 52-50, on July 2 2004.
While there may not be a Commonwealth Games gold medal or World Championship silverware on the line on this occasion, there's still plenty to play for, with the two sides playing for the Constellation Cup.
The two New Zealand Test matches are a start of series of five match series to be played between the traditional rivals in 2011, excluding any World Championship encounters, with the aggregate winner to be awarded the stunning Constellation Cup, launched last year and claimed by the Diamonds.
The Diamonds and Silver Ferns Test will be preceded by the second Test between the Australia 21/U and New Zealand 21/U as a curtain raiser.
Click here for live scores <http://silverferns.championdata.com/match_centre/matches/80230101/index .html> .
Australia Diamonds Team: Natalie von Bertouch (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Catherine Cox (NSW Swifts), Caitlin Bassett (West Coast Fever), Chelsea Pitman (Queensland Firebirds), Erin Bell (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Julie Corletto (Melbourne Vixens), Kimberlee Green (NSW Swifts), Laura Geitz (Queensland Firebirds), Mo'onia Gerrard (NSW Swifts), Natalie Medhurst (Queensland Firebirds), Sharni Layton (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Susan Fuhrmann (West Coast Fever)
Upcoming Diamonds International Fixtures: Tour of New Zealand 9 June New Zealand v Diamonds Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North (7:40pm) 12 June New Zealand v Diamonds Vector Arena, Auckland (7:40pm)
2011 World Netball Championships, Singapore Indoor Sports Centre, Singapore 4 July Australian Diamonds v Samoa 1:15pm 5 July Australian Diamonds v Northern Ireland 5:45pm 6 July Australian Diamonds v Sri Lanka 8:00pm *All Times above are local
