Netball: Keys and captaincy in drive of Wilson's life

Adine Wilson says she realised she was no longer the baby of the team when she was handed keys to a van. Picture / Paul Estcourt

She may be the Silver Fern's captain and about to play her 50th game for New Zealand, but Adine Wilson says her seniority in the national side only really hit home when she was handed the keys to one of the team's vans.

Despite the return of former captains Anna Rowberry and Belinda Colling, Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken has stuck with Wilson as captain for tomorrow night's test, possibly with an eye on next year's Commonwealth Games and the following year's world championships.

"For years I was the baby of the team and then all of a sudden I have become one of the oldies," Wilson said. "When I first got asked, a little while ago, to drive the team van I was like, 'Oh my god when did I become one of the oldest?' That is my big realisation.

"It just happens that it is usually one of the older players that are the van drivers and all of a sudden it was, 'Oh my god, it is me'."

The former New Zealand under-21 captain made her debut for the Silver Ferns in 2000. She captained the New Zealand A side against Barbados in 2002 before being recalled to the Silver Ferns for the November series against South Africa. She took over as captain in March for the series against England - a role she said was "pretty special".

"It is a big honour being captain, and it is neat having the returnees Leana [de Bruin], 'Bill' [Colling] and Annie [Rowberry]. They have a wealth of experience. ... There is a really nice balance between the old and the new."

A balance Aitken will be hoping she has right for tomorrow's one-off test.

New Zealand go into the match with the upper hand having beaten Australia 50-43 in a bruising encounter in June.

Wilson said she was impressed by the team's confidence.

"When we got that confidence as a team, we let the ball go. Even though you only have three seconds at some points, it felt longer because we had that clarity."

Wilson is clear in what else she would like to see from her side.

"We talk about a black force, with our black dresses, coming down the court at pace. We want to be innovative so people aren't going to watch the game and say we have seen that a thousand times before. ...

"You want to make it exciting.

"Our huge focus is to be relentless. Both sides want to take this win before the Commonwealth Games. It is just getting that little mental edge. ... It would be quite nice to say, 'Well the last two times we met we won'."

Did you know?

Defender Vilimaina Davu is the fastest in the New Zealand team in the 5m and 10m sprints.

Irene van Dyk will become the most capped player in international netball, provided she plays tomorrow night, but the game is also significant for captain Adine Wilson, who will rack up her 50th game for New Zealand and Vilimaina Davu who will play her 100th international game. Davu has played 55 for Fiji and currently has 44 under her belt for New Zealand.

Australia and New Zealand have played 75 times since 1938. New Zealand have won 28 games and Australia 45. There have been two draws.

At 34, Australian wing attack Natalie Avellino is the oldest player in the two squads. Silver Fern shooter Maria Tutaia is the youngest at 18.

TRANSTASMAN HIGHLIGHTS

1938 First international match (Australia 40, New Zealand 11, in Melbourne)

1948 New Zealand host international team for first time - losing all three tests to Australia 27-16, 44-13, 44-22

1963 England host first world tournament, involving 11 countries. Australia beat New Zealand in final 37-36

1967 New Zealand win world tournament in Perth, beating Australia 40-34

1979 New Zealand share world championship title with Australia and Trinidad and Tobago at world tournament

1987 New Zealand win world championships in Glasgow, beating Trinidad and Tobago 49-37 in final

1998 The beginning of big skiting rights for Australia, they win the Commonwealth Games final 42-39

1999 The ultimate heartbreaker, Australia 42, New Zealand 41 at the world championship in Christchurch

2002 The pain continues at the Manchester Commonwealth Games - Australia win gold in extra time 57-55

2003 New Zealand win world championship final in Jamaica, beating Australia 49-47

2004 World record crowd (14,339) attends New Zealand v Australia at Sydney