Brendon Egan.

Aussie great Liz Ellis has panned the decision to stop Laura Langman from playing for her country, writes

Former Australian great Liz Ellis has blasted Netball New Zealand over their treatment of Laura Langman, labelling it ‘‘the stupidest decision a sports administration has ever made’’.

There will be plenty of intrigue in Invercargill on Sunday when the Silver Ferns and Australia meet in the final game of the Quad Series. The clash will be the first since the respective Australian and New Zealand domestic competitions were staged this year, following the split of the trans-Tasman competition after nine seasons.

The longtime rivals last met in Durban, South Africa, in January with the Diamonds prevailing 57-50 after New Zealand made a horror start, falling behind 12-4.

New Zealand will be desperate to atone for their fourth quarter meltdown against England in Auckland on Wednesday, suffering just their fifth loss in 88 games to the Roses (49-45).

Ellis, a respected television commentator across the ditch and Australia’s most capped netballer with 122 tests, was dumbfounded by NNZ’s decision not to select Langman and said the Silver Ferns were worse off without her.

‘‘Not having her in your line-up is the stupidest decision a sporting administration has ever made.

‘‘I watched that game [against England] and I thought she would have been the difference well and truly. They don’t have someone who wins the ball and organises the midcourt like she does.’’

Calls for Langman’s inclusion will only intensify if New Zealand lose more matches to England in next week’s Taini Jamison Trophy three-game series and struggle against Australia in October’s Constellation Cup.

NNZ’s board have been resolute in their stance players must compete in the national premiership to be eligible for the Silver Ferns, forbidding coach Janine Southby from selecting Langman.

Langman, New Zealand’s second most capped player with 141 consecutive tests between 2005-16, is barred from wearing the black dress in 2017 or 2018 because she is playing for the champion Sunshine Coast Lightning in Australia.

Ellis disagreed with NNZ’s stance and argued the Silver Ferns needed to make the most of Langman’s ability and try and win as many tournaments before the 31-year-old retired. ’’I don’t even think Australia has the depth not to pick someone like her. I shake my head.

‘‘She’s someone who’s beyond reproach. She’s outstanding in her position. You put her in the line and suddenly it’s far more cohesive. I think the Silver Ferns lack that cohesion.’’

Langman was in brilliant form for the Lightning this season on their way to the inaugural Super Netball title.

‘‘There’s certain players who you really need to look after and New Zealand haven’t done that with I watched that game [against England] and I thought she would have been the difference. Laura Langman. You’re not going to get an athlete like that again.’’

Ellis’ former Australian teammate Catherine Cox said it was a ‘‘big loss’’ not having Langman in the Silver Ferns midcourt, but understood what NNZ were trying to achieve. ’’You can’t make different rules for different people,’’ Cox said.

‘‘It’s smart for them to be able to keep the best players in the country. I think that’s a very wise thing to do, but obviously tough when some players choose to go, particularly ones so valuable to the Silver Ferns’ line-up.’’

The Silver Ferns have beaten Australia just once in six games since Southby took over. New Zealand must start chalking up victories for their own confidence levels leading into April’s Commonwealth Games.

Despite losing to England, both Ellis and Cox believed New Zealand would present a stern challenge for the Diamonds in Invercargill.

‘‘I’ve always said separating the two competitions would benefit New Zealand because it gives them back that air of mystery that they had for many years,’’ Ellis said.