Netball: Bertouch going out on a high

A familiar name will be missing when the Australian netball squad is announced today with test skipper Natalie von Bertouch calling time on her career.

The 30-year-old has retired after leading her Adelaide Thunderbirds to their second transtasman competition title in the final against the Queensland Firebirds last Sunday.

Since her debut in 2004, the athletic centre has made 76 appearances for the Diamonds including 16 as captain.

She steered Australia to a thrilling win over New Zealand in the final of the world championship in 2011 and was also part of the victorious 2007 team.

Von Bertouch also won two silver Commonwealth Games medals.

Since the 2011 titles, she has missed eight of 18 international tests through foot and finger injuries which eventually took their toll.

"I've made this decision because I could no longer contribute to the team in the way that I wanted after injuries have limited my court time," von Bertouch said.

"Obviously it's going to be a huge change for me because netball is everything I've known since I was 9."

Von Bertouch said she was looking forward to overseas travel and planning her wedding.

Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said it was a huge loss for Australian netball but she was pleased her popular skipper could retire on her own terms.

"She will go down as one of the best players this country has ever produced," Alexander said.

"Nat probably played her best games for the year in the finals for Adelaide and she went out on top.

"If you're going to script your retirement in such a way it's pretty spot on."

The Australian squad for the 2013 international tests will be announced today.

Alexander said there was a process to complete before a new captain was announced.

The coach said competition for places in the squad, which will be cut down to 12, had been fierce.

Their opening test of a five-match series against New Zealand is in Invercargill on Sunday, September 15.

- AAP