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Expect a harder edge to the leadership of the Silver Ferns now that veteran Julie Seymour has been named captain of the New Zealand netball team.
Seymour's remarkable career took yet another twist today when coach Ruth Aitken entrusted her with the captaincy for the two-test home series against Australia next month.
The 37-year-old mother-of-three has never shied away from stating her opinion, at times in blunt terms, during an international career taking in 88 tests since 1994.
The midcourter's frankness is in stark contrast to her recent captaincy predecessors, who it can be said were more of the `sugar and spice and all things nice' variety.
Seymour's appointment, and the 12-strong squad named today, is for the two tests against Australia only, with Aitken retaining the freedom to make any changes she sees fit for the three-match home series against England in October.
Aitken has given a nod to the future by eschewing tradition in naming co-vice captains in defender Casey Williams and midcourter Laura Langman.
The only newcomer named is Southern Steel's 1.85m defender Katrina Grant, 21, while her teammate, goal shoot Daneka Wipiiti, has been recalled for the first time since 2002.
Seymour, who captained the team in 2002 - at home against Barbados, on tour to Jamaica and at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester where they won a silver medal - said the offer of the captaincy was more a pleasant surprise than a shock.
She also suggested no one would die wondering what she was thinking.
"I like to say what I think is appropriate," she told NZPA.
"I set pretty high standards for myself and I expect other people to do the same."
Seymour said she would treat the captaincy much like she did her career as a whole, in that she would review her commitment to the sport at the end of each year.
She assumes the captaincy from Adine Wilson, who has stepped away from the court to raise her first child.
Aitken said she had little hesitation in approaching the Canterbury veteran to take on the job.
"She brings wonderful experience to the role and outstanding qualities," she told NZPA.
"Her ability to be calm under pressure, her work ethic and the respect in which she is held are fantastic."
Aitken said she did not consider the captaincy appointment a short-term fix despite Seymour's age.
"It is all about performance. She is performing how we want her to at the moment. Who knows how long that lasts, but the same can be said for the young players as well.
"As it is, Julie continues to produce what we want, both in her fitness testing and in her core performance, as well as her off-court preparations."
She described the naming of Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic colleagues Williams, 23, and Langman, 22, as vice-captains as "stake in the ground" for the future leadership.
"We do see both as learning from Julie. Who better to learn the ropes from."
Grant's promotion owes much to her work since being invited to train with the Silver Ferns in February.
"She really was the big mover at the defence end during the ANZ Championship. She is very tenacious and never backs down," Aitken said.
"Especially against the Australian style, she will add real variety at the defence end."
The squad naming marked a coming in from the cold for Wipiiti, the 25-year-old 1.94m shooter.
"She was rock solid in the shooting circle during the ANZ Championship for Southern Steel," Aitken said.
"She reads the game really well and her availability for the ball is excellent. She showed week after week against the Australian teams that she is able to put up a volume of shots.
"Her height and her availability make her a very good weapon for us."
New Zealand play Australia in Christchurch on September 17 and in Auckland three days later.
Aitken will then review her squad ahead of tests against England, on October 13 in Auckland, October 15 in Dunedin and October 18 in Palmerston North.
Silver Ferns squad
Paula Griffin, Maria Tutaia, Irene van Dyk, Daneka Wipiiti, Maree Bowden, Joline Henry, Laura Langman (vice-captain), Julie Seymour (captain), Leana de Bruin, Katrina Grant, Sheryl Scanlan, Casey Williams (vice-captain).
- NZPA
