Netball: Wilson is it - even the Aussies agree

Adine Wilson

Silver Ferns' coach Ruth Aitken and her Australian counterpart, Norma Plummer, agree on one thing ahead of next month's one-off test in Sydney.

Adine Wilson is the player to lead New Zealand into the future.

The Silver Ferns to play Australia on June 29 were named in Auckland yesterday.

With an eye on next year's Commonwealth Games and the following year's world championships, Aitken has opted for a younger side with an even split of four shooters, four midcourters and four defenders.

With considerable depth in every third of the court, the team was one of the most difficult to predict in recent years.

Such was the high standard of play that former captain Anna Rowberry, her Diamonds team-mate Victoria Edward, veteran defender Sheryl Scanlan and Rebels' goal attack Angela Mitchell missed the cut.

Following her stint as captain in the series against England in March, Wilson was named as skipper ahead of Lesley Rumball - putting her in a strong position to lead New Zealand at next year's Games and in the defence of their world championship title the following year.

Plummer, who will wait until June 19 to name her side, had nothing but praise for Wilson yesterday.

"She is your future player and has been the go-to girl in all the test matches against us. She is a great athlete."

While Rowberry's omission wasn't entirely surprising, considering her form is still returning after her knee surgery last year, Scanlan's dismissal was a bold call given she has had the better of Aussie shooting ace Sharelle McMahon in recent times.

"Certainly going by 2003 she had her first win over Sharelle, but in saying that it was her first one," Plummer argued in McMahon's defence.

"I think Sharelle has been well on top of her in previous ones.

"I wasn't surprised [to see Scanlan dropped].

"I thought she'd been on and off the court, and that [Anna] Scarlett had started to step up into that position.

"I know young Casey Williams has been in the under-21s and is held in high esteem."

Other features of the side were the retention of New Zealand under-21 players Williams and Maria Tutaia, who were called up for the series against England in March following injuries to Angela Mitchell and Lesley Rumball.

Aitken said Tutaia and Williams impressed her during the England series and had backed that up with strong performances in the National Bank Cup.

The Magic's little battler, Laura Langman, held her spot in an extremely competitive midcourt.

The only new cap in the side is Magic goal attack Anna Senio. A member of the New Zealand A team for the past two years, Senio, the wife of All Black trialist Kevin, has taken her game up another level this season.

Her solid relationship with Irene van Dyk could prove handy in the no-holds-barred, one-off test.

Plummer said New Zealand and Australia were both looking to blood players to take them through to the Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

Australia have lost several key players recently through injury or pregnancy.

"We have blooded six new ones in the past 12 months and then brought back an old hack ... and what a hack having [goal attack/wing attack] Natalie Avellino back.

"It is making sure that with the experience you have, you are bringing young ones in and getting them up to pace."

While Plummer is confident she can select a side that will match New Zealand one for one, she does - if accidentally - concede her side may be a little wanting in goal defence.

"It has been your reporting, not my comment, that you don't rate Jodi Te Huna in the goal attack position ... everyone seems to be waiting for Belinda Colling to come back.

"If we say your weakness is the goal attack, I would have to say since losing [goal defence] Janine Illitch, that is our vulnerable position. I guess that evens us out a bit."

Key points

* One new cap in Magic goal attack Anna Senio.

* Out go former captain Anna Rowberry, Auckland midcourter Victoria Edward, North Harbour defender Sheryl Scanlan and Otago's Angela Mitchell.

* For the first time since the 2003 world championships, New Zealand will go into a series with an even split of four shooters, four midcourters and four defenders.

* Unlucky to miss out were midcourters Debbie White (Otago) and Amigene Metcalfe (Waikato).

* The Silver Ferns face Australia on June 29 in Sydney and on October 29 in Auckland. New Zealand hope to tour Jamaica in November.

The squad

Adine Wilson (Sting, captain), Vilimaina Davu (Flames), Joline Henry (Magic), Temepara George (Force), Laura Langman (Magic), Lesley Rumball (Sting), Anna Scarlett (Rebels), Anna Senio (Magic), Jodi Te Huna (Diamonds), Maria Tutaia (Diamonds), Irene van Dyk (Magic), Casey Williams (Magic).