The Australia National Netball Team, commonly known as the Australian Netball Diamonds and Samsung Diamonds for sponsorship reasons, represent Australia in international netball tests and competitions. The team was formed in 1938 and played in the first international game of netball against New Zealand. In 2008 the team adopted the name "Diamonds" in line with other Australian sporting teams, including the national women's basketball team, the Opals.
Australia have traditionally been regarded as the most successful netball team in international netball: they have won ten of the thirteen World Netball Championships, in addition to being the current world champions and ranked first in the INF World Rankings. The Diamonds compete annually in a home-and-away test series, the Constellation Cup, with perennial rivals New Zealand. Regular test matches are also held with other major netball countries, including England and Jamaica. To date, Australia have won ten World Championships and three Commonwealth Games events.The Australian diamonds won the 2015 trophy in Sydney, New South Wales .
The Diamonds are administered by Netball Australia, the national governing body for netball in the country. Players are usually selected from Australian ANZ Championship franchises. The team are presently captained by Sunshine Coast Lightning shooter Caitlin Bassett. Lisa Alexander was appointed head coach in August 2011, taking over from Norma Plummer.
Video Australia national netball team
History
While they remain amongst the world's very best, they have come under increasing challenge from New Zealand's national team, the Silver Ferns, in recent years. New Zealand won the 2006 Commonwealth Games final and the grand final of the 2003 World Netball Championships, which saw Australia lose the top world ranking. However, Australia regained their status as world champions after winning the 2007 World Netball Championships.
Historically, the Australian team has had an edge over perennial rivals New Zealand, as posting 54 victories, as opposed to New Zealand's 36 out of the 90 tests they have played (as at October 2008), including two matches ending in a draw.
On 8 September 2008, Netball Australia changed the official name of the national team to the Australian Netball Diamonds. Continuing the trend set by the Australian women's basketball team, the Opals, Netball Australia made the announcement and described it as a milestone event in the sport's 80-year history in Australia.
Australia won the 2011 World Netball Championships on 10 July 2011 when the team defeated New Zealand 58-57 overtime, giving them their tenth world championship.
Maps Australia national netball team
Competitive record
Fast5 (formerly Fastnet)
Australia has competed in all six World Netball Series. The first series saw Australia's side all Diamond test players. Since the second series the fastnet/fast5 Australian team has contained both youthful and experienced players normally those just missing or not ready for Diamonds selection yet. Australia's Fast5 team is called the Fast5 Flyers.
Players
2017 Diamonds Squad
Notable past players
- Liz Ellis AM: Most capped Australian Netball player with 122 test caps. Liz has commentated the majority of Netball matches played in Australia for the ANZ Championship and the Constellation Cup since 2008. Liz is currently a 9Gem Commentator for the Suncorp Super Netball league.
- Sharelle McMahon: Represented Australia in 118 tests spanning 14 years. Known for shooting the final-second winning shot in the 1999 Netball World Cup final. Sharelle is currently a 9Gem Commentator for the Suncorp Super Netball league.
- Catherine Cox: Accumulated 108 Test caps and more than 2000 goals for Australia. Cath is currently a 9Gem Commentator for the Suncorp Super Netball league.
- Norma Plummer: Former player and captain and is the former coach of the Australian Diamonds and of the West Coast Fever. She is the current coach of the SPAR Proteas
- Vicki Wilson: Has 104 test caps to her name. Coach of the Firebirds 2006-2009, was a commentator for Network Ten and an assistant coach of New Zealand.
- Kathryn Harby-Williams: Fierce defender for Australia with 94 test caps.
- Rosalie Jencke: Defender for Australia with 43 test caps. Current coach of the Queensland Firebirds.
- Shelley O'Donnell: Played for Australia for 10 years with 80 test caps.
- Anne Sargeant OAM: Shooter for Australia. 52 test caps to her name in a period with many fewer annual test matches compared to 2001-2013. Anne is currently a 9Gem Commentator for the Suncorp Super Netball league.
- Michelle den Dekker: Defender for Australia with 84 test caps and was captain in 1985-86 and from 1988-95. Den Dekker is also the coach of the Thunderbirds.
- Natalie von Bertouch: Mid-courter for Australia with 76 tests and captain from 2010-2013.
Most-capped Australian netballers
Kit suppliers
Australia's kits are currently supplied by Coast2Coast. The Sponsors are Samsung, Nissian, Suncorp and Woolworths
Home Courts
The Australian diamonds use many different home courts around Australia. The courts they currently use are:
See also
- Constellation Cup
- Netball in Australia
References
External links
- Official team website
- Netball Australia website
Source of article : Wikipedia
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