WAIS Netball Athletes Selected in Diamonds Team

The Western Australian Institute of Sport has had three of its scholarship holders selected in the Australian Diamonds squad for the up coming Trans Tasman Test Series.

West Coast Fever representatives Susan Fuhrmann and Jo Curran along with Adelaide Thunderbirds shooter Kate Beveridge were all included in the tour squad for the Test series.

Australia will play a world selection side ahead of the Test series, with both Fuhrmann and Curran listed to play.

National coach Norma Plummer chose to announce only the team for the first Test match against a World Selection team in Adelaide on Wednesday 2 September, leaving the possibility for others from the squad to play a part in the Test Series.

With a long international schedule ahead, including Tests in New Zealand, Jamaica and England, as well as the World Netball Series, Plummer chose to share the national duties around, giving the group as much depth as possible while also giving the squad flexibility with injured players.

“The reason for picking the squad for the Series was to have the depth to cover any issue that might come up,” Plummer said.

“We want to be able to have flexibility with announcing the team. That’s why we’ve kept it open by naming a squad of 16 and we’ll name a team as we go.

The 16 player squad was named after a five-day national camp at the Australian Institute of Sport where Plummer was blown away by the standard of netball produced.

“I am really pleased by the quality of players and the work effort they put out on the weekend; the standard was remarkable.

“Their work ethic was amazing. Everybody knew that the pressure was on and everybody lifted to the program and they really put out excellent netball.