MADDY Proud has been given the responsibility of leading Australia’s next generation of international netballers against some of the world’s best in Ballarat.
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Proud and vice-captain Gabi Simpson were yesterday announced as the on-court leaders for a four-nation 21 and under international series, which begins at the Wendouree Sports and Events Centre tomorrow night.
Australia will clash with arch-rival New Zealand, England and Samoa in the week-long round-robin event.
Proud, 18, from South Australia, is one of the most experienced in the 12-strong 21/under squad.
Just three players – Proud, Kate Shimmin and Micaela Wilson – were part of the Australian line-up which met New Zealand in a three-game series last year.
Proud has spent two years playing with Adelaide Thunderbirds in the Trans Tasman Championship under the guidance of Australian Diamonds captain Natalie von Bertouch.
Australian coach Carol Byers believes Proud had learnt a lot about what it meant to be a leader in her Thunderbirds experience.
“We’ve got a very youthful team, so her previous experience and exposure to a great leadership style is going to be extremely important at this level, and having that will be an asset to this group.”
Simpson is from New South Wales and an AIS scholarship holder.
“Gabi is a member of the leadership group at the AIS and has an extremely well balanced approach to how she goes about the game and is a great on-court leader,” Byers said.
Byers, of Bendigo, said the tournament marked the beginning of Australia’s preparation for next year’s world youth championship in Scotland.
She said this would be the first time most of the players had had the chance to show how they stood up to the pressure of fully-fledged internationals.
“This is a great opportunity.”
Byers said there was plenty of excitement among the players preparing for their debuts in Australian colours.
From a coaching perspective, Byers said the series would also allow her to assess player strengths and weaknesses.
“By the end, we’’ have a good idea of where we’re at.”
The 12 21/under players, who are part a broader 22-member squad, will be joined in Ballarat by a newly formed 19/under development squad.
Byers said 21/under was youngest age level for netball internationally.
She said the younger group had been set up to provide a pathway.
The 19/unders will play practice games against all four 21/under teams in Ballarat.
New Zealand is expected to provide the toughest opposition for Australia.
The Trans-Tasman rivals finished first and second in last year’s world championships at this level.
Australia will go from Ballarat to the Caribbean in November, when they will play Jamaica and Trinidad-Tobago.
Byers said by the end the year Australia would have tested itself again all styles of play in readiness for Scotland in the new year.
Tomorrow night’s international series opening fixtures:
6pm: Samoa v New Zealand
8pm: Australia v England
david.brehaut@thecourier.com.au
