Diamonds draw minnows at netball World Cup

Australia are unlikely to be pushed in the early stages of next year's netball World Cup after being drawn into what appears to be an easy group.

Australia may struggle to raise a sweat during the group phase of next year's Netball World Cup after being drawn with three relative minnows.

The International Netball Federation announced the draw and finalised schedule on Saturday for the tournament to be staged in Liverpool, England.

Defending champions Australia are in group A along with world No.8 Northern Ireland, 13th-ranked Zimbabwe and 26th-ranked Sri Lanka.

They play in that order, with the Northern Ireland clash on July 12 being the tournament opener.

Australia will chase a 12th crown and their fourth in a row, having triumphed on home soil in Sydney in 2015.

NETBALL WORLD CUP GROUPS

Group A: Australia, Northern Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka

Group B: New Zealand, Malawi, Barbados, Singapore

Group C: Jamaica, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji

Group D: England, Uganda, Scotland, Samoa