PREVIEW | Australia vs. England
TOMORROW sees the international netball season in the southern hemisphere get underway, with the first test between Australia and England happening in Adelaide.
After they met in the Netball Nations Cup earlier this year, this is the first time the Roses have travelled to Australia since 2022.
That particular series saw three tight matches despite Australia winning all three ties, with the combined margin for the series being 13 goals.
For the Diamonds, there is this sense of renewal around the squad. One defining characteristics of the Australian squad is its continuity of members, and how new faces are not common.
The squad for this series does have plenty of regular faces like captain Liz Watson, Jamie-Lee Price and Cara Koenen, this is counter balanced by a large number of potential debutants or players with a low number of caps, such as Rudi Ellis, Ash Ervin, Georgie Horjus, Amy Parmenter and Matilda Garrett.
Speaking of Ellis, Ervin and Garrett, this could be a big series for them as with no Jo Weston or Courtney Bruce there is a big chance for those three to make a big impact and get solid minutes on court.
Meanwhile the Roses also have a couple of new faces, but not quite to the extent of the Diamonds.
The Roses do being plenty of potential questions to be answered into the series.
Shooter rotation is sure to be fascinating. Do they play their usual first choices Eleanor Cardwell and Helen Housby for most of the series, or do they gives the likes of potential debutant Lois Pearson more of a look in?
However, the midcourt is the most intriguing for the Roses of the three areas of court.
With no Natalie Metcalf in the side due to injury, Imogen Allison is going to have a lot on her shoulders, leading a not overly experienced centre court group.
Hannah Joseph and Amy Carter may also get the chance to really step up, and it will be interesting to see how Beth Cobden, who got her first call up in two years, and Jessica Shaw, who was the late replacement for Metcalf, go and how much opportunities they both get.
Australia vs England Squads
Australia
Sunday Aryang
Kiera Austin
Sophie Dwyer
Rudi Ellis
Ash Ervin
Sophie Garbin
Matilda Garrett
Paige Hadley
Georgie Horjus
Sarah Klau
Cara Koenen
Kate Moloney
Amy Parmenter
Jamie-Lee Price
Liz Watson
England
Imogen Allison
Eleanor Cardwell
Amy Carter
Beth Cobden
Funmi Fadoju
Alice Harvey
Helen Housby
Hannah Joseph
Berri Neil
Lois Pearson
Razia Quashie
Ellie Rattu
Jess Shaw
Liv Tchine
Fran Williams
Australia vs England Fixture
Match 1 – Thursday September 19, 7pm AEST at Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Match 2 – Sunday September 22, 4pm AEST at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
Match 3 – Wednesday September 25, 7pm AEST at Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo