Diamonds’ little hand

AUSTRALIA’S top netball league has helped produce arguably the best netball team England has ever fielded at a Commonwealth Games and boasting their best ever chance of dethroning the Diamonds.

Almost half the squad named to compete on the Gold Coast play in Australia’s topline Super Netball, now regarded as the best domestic competition in the world, with three players attached to Sydney clubs, the Swifts and Giants.

Serena Guthrie and Jo Harten are Giants, Helen Housby is a Swift while Geva Mentor plays for the reigning Sunshine Coast Lightning side and Chelsea Pitman for the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

“It is definitely very, very strong,’’ said Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander. “Having Geva there, going to her fifth Commonwealth Games is impressive in itself. It is a powerful team that has been building over a period of time.’’

Unlike England, New Zealand netball bans any player seeking to compete for the Silver Ferns at the Commonwealth Games from playing in the Australian league.

Ama Agbeze, with the Northern Stars, is the only English member who plays in the New Zealand competition.