Brit blasts Aussie Open conditions
within this team, I’m going to look at Maia and Te Paea in that goal-shooting position and then it would be Bailey and Mels [Ekenasio] in that goal-attack position, so if we make a change, we’ve got clean changes there.
‘‘That’s the starting point for test one and we’ll see how we go or what needs to be tweaked after then.’’
The theme of the Silver Ferns’ Nations Cup tournament is all about opportunity.
With Casey Kopua and Folau both retired and usual captain Laura Langman and Katrina Rore given a breather for this series, the Ferns are missing 562 tests of experience from their World Cup titlewinning side.
Selby-Rickit and Wilson aren’t the only ones with plenty to prove.
Midcourters Whitney Souness and Kimiora Poi benefit from Langman’s absence and should get significant Nations Cup minutes, alongside Steel duo Gina Crampton and Shannon Saunders.
In the defensive end, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, who flew to Liverpool as an injury standby for Rore at the World Cup but wasn’t required, will also be eager to impress.
The start of the new World Cup cycle is the perfect time for the Ferns to try fresh combinations, give inexperienced players court time, and build cohesion.
All 12 players would get on court during the three Nations Cup group games, Taurua said.
‘‘That’s the intention to do that. Some of the players have been in the mix over a few years, but because of the timeframe leading into worlds [last year] we never had the luxury of giving a lot of people quality court time.
‘‘Everybody will be seen out on court and that’s definitely one of the objectives of the tour.’’
Defender Jane Watson, another standout in the Ferns’ World Cup success, is managing a longstanding ankle issue, and will see a lightened workload in England.
‘‘She will take the court, but how many minutes we’re still working through that.’’
British tennis player Liam Broady has accused Australian Open officials of treating qualifiers worse than animals as calls grow among players to form a union.
Broady lost in the first round of qualifying, playing his match in a blanket of smoke at Melbourne Park on Tuesday, and said he struggled to breathe in the conditions.
Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic had to quit her qualifying match that day after a coughing fit, while Australia’s Bernard Tomic also sought medical treatment.
World No 234 Broady took to Twitter on Thursday, saying: ‘‘The more I think about the conditions we played in a few days ago the more it boils my blood.
‘‘We can’t let this slide. The email we received yesterday from the ATP and AO was a slap in the face, conditions were ‘playable’. Were they healthy?
‘‘Citizens of Melbourne were warned to keep their animals indoors the day I played qualifying, and yet were were expected to go outside for high intensity physical competition?
‘‘What do we have to do to create a players union? Where is the protection for players, both male and female? When multiple players need asthma spray on court and they don’t even have asthma? When a player collapses and has to retire due to respiratory issues?
‘‘On tour we let so many things go that aren’t right but at some point we have to make a stand. ALL players need protection, not just a select few.’’
Broady’s tweet was supported by Germany’s Dustin Brown, who also needed medical treatment during his firstround loss played on Wednesday.
‘‘’I have a virus coming on’ I was told by the doctor on court,’’ Brown tweeted.
‘‘In 35 years it’s the first time I had to use an asthma spray to help me breathe better #wellsaidLiam.’’
Former world No 25 Canadian Vasek Pospisil said the situation was ‘‘absurd’’ and it was ‘‘time for a players union’’.
French player Alize Cornet, a former world No 11, also agreed: ‘‘We have to stick together and stop this nonsense #players union.’’ Their comments came after qualifying third seed Canadian Brayden Schnur labelled Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal ‘‘selfish’’ for not speaking out on behalf of lesser-known players.