COAST COMM GAMES HOPEFULS TO BOWL OVER THE OLD ENEMY
TERRY WILSON terry.wilson@news.com.au GOLD Coast star Lynsey Clarke will return as captain of the Australian Jackaroos for a three-Test bowls series against England starting today at Broadbeach.
Overlooked for a place in the Australian team that contested the world championships in New Zealand late last year, the mother-of-one has been reinstated to the Jackaroos team and will regain her captain’s title.
Australia and England men’s and women’s teams clash today, tomorrow and Friday and Clark is delighted to be back wearing the national green and gold.
“Definitely, every time I wear the green and gold it’s a huge honour,” Clarke said when asked if she is excited to be back in the national side.
“Especially taking on England here, they’re probably our biggest rivals, there’s a good rivalry there.”
It is pleasing for Clarke to be reinstated after being left out of the Australian side that contested the world championships in New Zealand late last year.
National coach Steve Glasson said leaving Clarke back home when the worlds were on was “a hard call”.
“She was obviously disappointed to miss the worlds but it is such a tough environment and little separates our elite players,” Glasson said.
“It was a hard call but to Lynsey’s credit she’s a very determined player and has put in a lot of hard yards.”
Clarke’s Helensvale clubmate Brett Wilkie is in the men’s side for the Tests, which will be played over a schedule of three sessions a day and with various disciplines of singles, pairs, triples and fours.
England have brought seven-member men’s and women’s teams for the Tests as a full-scale reconnaissance mission leading into the 2018 Commonwealth Games bowls to be staged at Broadbeach.
“This is really a preCommonwealth Games hitout because it will be the only time England will get to come here prior,” Clarke said.
Australian selectors have included three new faces in the national squads. Ellen Ryan, 20, Scott Thulborn, 33, and 20year-old Corey Wedlock are the rookies to tackle England.
Automatic selections in the Australian women’s team are world champion Karen Murphy and Australian Open singles winner Natasha Scott. Australian men’s champ Aron Sherriff, from Ettalong Memorial, heads the men’s side.