Diamonds get down to World Cup business

One month before the Diamonds kick off their netball World Cup defence in Sydney, the final 12-player squad are bunkered down in camp on the Gold Coast.

After a dramatic trans-Tasman netball championship final and intense competition for national spots, Australia's World Cup squad are relieved to be getting down to business.

One month before the Diamonds kick off their world title defence against Trinidad and Tobago in Sydney, the 12-player squad are bunkered down on the Gold Coast in the first of two five-day training camps.

Pressure is undeniably on coach Lisa Alexander's charges to claim a third consecutive World Cup trophy and extend their global dominance in front of home crowds.

But for the two-thirds of the squad comprised of NSW Swifts and Queensland Firebirds, the feeling is exactly the opposite.

There's a palpable sense of calm in training that's come with putting last month's ANZ Championship grand final hysteria behind them.

"It's been such a long ANZ season, and a little bit of angst going around," said Kimberlee Green, Diamonds vice-captain and skipper of the Swifts side that lost the grand final to the Firebirds by one point.

"So to have the team named and be in camp, this is what we're good at. We're good at playing netball and not worrying about everything else."

Green is one of five Swifts called up for World Cup duty along with goal shooter Caitlin Thwaites, retiring star Julie Corletto, fellow defender Sharni Layton and bolter Paige Hadley.

On the Firebirds side are Australian captain Laura Geitz, Kim Ravaillion and the recalled Rebecca Bulley.

With the new faces of Bulley, Hadley and Adelaide Thunderbirds goal attack Erin Bell added to last year's Commonwealth Games gold medal line-up, the focus this week is on-court cohesion.

"Obviously players have been in and out before, but it's just reconnecting it all and making sure that we are just spot on with all of our court work," said Green, a member of both the triumphant 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2011 World Cup teams.

"Lisa said it a few times. We're just working on combinations and on units and making sure they're nice and tight.

"All the rest will look after itself."

After this week, the Diamonds will head home for individual training before another five-day training camp in Newcastle from July 31 to August 4.


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Source: AAP


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