The New South Wales Swifts star Paige Hadley is a shock selection in Australia's netball World Cup squad, while Adelaide Thunderbirds goal attack Erin Bell and Queensland Firebirds' Rebecca Bulley have earned recalls.
Paige Hadley Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The trio are the only three changes Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander announced in Sydney on Wednesday from the 12-player squad that broke Australia's Commonwealth Games gold medal drought in Glasgow last year.
Glasgow Games player Tegan Phillips is the biggest casualty and the only member to be outright replaced, as Bell was awarded the contentious second goal attack bib over her, in-form Swifts shooter Susan Pettitt and young Firebirds gun Gretel Tippett.
Natalie Medhurst has held onto the other GA spot for the World Cup in Sydney in August.
Hadley was selected after having been overlooked for the initial 18-player Diamonds squad named earlier this year, and will provide cover in the midcourt in the absence of dynamic star Madi Robinson, who's been ruled out with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
Hadley, 22, has just two international Test appearances after making her debut against Malawi in 2013 before a knee injury prematurely ended her season last year.
Bulley will take up the extra position in the circle freed up by Bianca Chatfield's retirement.
Thunderbirds' Renae Hallinan will finally get her opportunity to play in a World Cup after missing selection in 2011.
With 57 Tests to her name, the 28-year-old is currently the most capped Diamonds player of all time not to have played in a World Cup.
"This Diamonds selection process was nothing short of the most difficult in my coaching career, such is the high level of performance from the athletes this year," Alexander said.
"However the selectors and I are confident this is the team to win the netball World Cup."
The squad includes seven players from the side that won the world title four years ago.
Australia's World Cup squad: Caitlin Bassett (West Coast Fever), Erin Bell (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Rebecca Bulley (Queensland Firebirds), Julie Corletto (NSW Swifts), Laura Geitz (Queensland Firebirds), Kimberlee Green (NSW Swifts), Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts), Renae Hallinan (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Sharni Layton (NSW Swifts), Natalie Medhurst (West Coast Fever), Kim Ravaillion (Queensland Firebirds), Caitlin Thwaites (NSW Swifts)
