Netball: Bowden left out as Scanlan returns

Sheryl Scanlan (R) vies for the ball with Pamela Cookey. Scanlan says she is excited to be back in the test squad. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Silver Ferns' midcourter Maree Bowden's future in the international game looks shaky after being axed from the test line-up for the remaining two matches against Australia.

The Canterbury star has been left out of the side with the selectors calling in defender Sheryl Scanlan for the New Zealand leg of the five-test series, beginning in Invercargill this Sunday.

Liana Barrett-Chase has also been left out of the line-up for the next two tests as she continues to battle a calf injury suffered in the Ferns' opening win in Sydney.

With Barrett-Chase sent home early from the Australian tour as a result of the injury, Bowden was presented with a golden opportunity to push her case for more court time for the Ferns. The 29-year-old started at wing attack in the second test in Melbourne, but struggled to make an impact before being benched at halftime.

Still, with Barrett-Chase's on-going injury troubles, it is a big call for the New Zealand selectors to drop Bowden at this stage of the series. It means the Ferns' midcourt attacking options are limited, but coach Ruth Aitken is confident the versatile Wendy Telfer will provide enough coverage on the bench.

Aitken said the exclusion of Bowden was more about wanting to give others a chance in the international environment. Scanlan was injured for much of the second half of the ANZ Championship season and wasn't included in the original test line-up as her conditioning wasn't considered up to scratch. But the veteran defender has spent the past month building up her fitness and has reportedly been in strong form for Southland in the opening rounds of the NPC.

"We definitely still wanted to keep using this series to have a look at people and help make those decisions for the end of year tour a lot better," said Aitken.

"Also Sheryl's experience is invaluable. We're in a must-win now for these two tests and we haven't got a long build-up so we feel it's not the time to bring in one of the young ones [Charlotte Kight and Camilla Lees]."

The New Zealand coach acknowledged Bowden, who was one of the standouts for the Tactix in this year's ANZ Championship, has failed to make the most of her opportunities at international level.

"This is her third season now and she needs to be able to put it out on court as well and it didn't quite happen for her when she was there," she said.

"I think sometimes her over-enthusiasm to do stuff means she ends up a little bit anxious and she just needs to be a little bit more settled and looking at where she sort of fits in with things."

After hearing the news of her inclusion in the test line-up, Scanlan had an extra spring in her step when she hit the gym yesterday. The 31-year-old said she was very emotional when she received the phone call from Aitken.

"When I got the call last night it was like I made it for the first time. It was totally unexpected - I was completely shaking when I got off the phone. But I'm just so happy I got back in the team," said Scanlan.

The Silver Ferns also announced yesterday that dynamic midcourter Temepara George, who returned to the international arena this season, had been appointed vice-captain of the side.

* NZ squad

Temepara George (v-c), Katrina Grant, Paula Griffin, Joline Henry, Laura Langman, Sheryl Scanlan, Wendy Telfer, Anna Thompson, Maria Tutaia, Irene van Dyk, Larrissa Willcox, Casey Williams (c).