Netball: Silver Ferns to take on composite world team

A demand for more international competition has seen the Silver Ferns' calendar expanded this year to include a series of clashes against a composite world team.

The Silver Ferns will face the world invitation team in a three-test series in August, before taking on old foes Australia in five tests in September.

The tests will be split between countries, with Australia hosting three matches and New Zealand two. But, unlike last year, there will be just one trophy up for grabs.

The format is in response to last year's controversy in which each country hosted a two-test series with both ending drawn at one win apiece. The Silver Ferns were declared winners of both series on goal countback, but it left fans crying out for a more definitive result - calls Netball New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle was happy to answer.

"There were a lot of calls from the market for us to play the Australians five times in sequence, which we've been able to deliver on so we're really pleased about that," said Castle.

The Netball NZ head was also thrilled to be able to include a further three tests against an invitation world team. Castle said that with only four truly competitive international teams, it was hard to find tough competition for the Ferns while including variety in their programme. The world team is expected to be a formidable lineup with England and Jamaican stars likely to feature prominently.

Players from Africa, Samoa and Australia will also be among the invitees.

The Australian Diamonds are also set to play a series against the composite world team with New Zealand players filling the gaps left by those in the Australian squad.

However, the Diamonds and Silver Ferns players who will feature in the World Team are not expected to be frontline players.

Castle said this was because the top players would already be playing in up to eight tests and player burnout might become a problem, particularly when both sides were also set to take part in the World Series in October.

INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR 2009

New Zealand

New World International Netball Series
Silver Ferns v Invitation World Team*
August 24, 7.30pm, Wellington
August 26, 7.30pm, Energy Events Centre, Rotorua
August 29, 7.30pm, The Trusts Stadium, Auckland

*Playing for the Taini Jamison Trophy

Australia

Holden Netball Test Series
Silver Ferns v Australian Diamonds
September 6, 12:25pm ACER Arena, Sydney
September 9, 7.55pm Hisense Arena, Melbourne
September 13, 3.25pm BCEC, Brisbane

New Zealand

New World International Netball Series
Silver Ferns v Australian Diamonds
September 20, 4.00pm, Stadium Southland, Invercargill
September 23, 7.30pm, Vector Arena, Auckland