Bassett named Australian Diamonds captain

Australian netball coach Lisa Alexander believes the captaincy will allow Caitlin Bassett a chance to prove just how good she is.

A member of the Diamonds squad since 2008, Bassett was anointed the new leader of the world champion side in Brisbane on Friday.

Madi Robinson and Gabi Simpson are co-vice captains of the new-look squad, which will play England in the Quad Series opener in Brisbane next Saturday.

Alexander said Bassett’s leadership and skill set had yet to be truly appreciated as the Diamonds prepare to defend Commonwealth Games gold on the Gold Coast next April.

‘‘It’s been amazing to watch her development; she’s so mature and thoughtful and she’s underestimated in this country as to how good she is,’’ the coach said. ‘‘The thing I like most is her honesty - she’s just right down the line fair dinkum and will tell you exactly what she’s thinking.’’

The Perth product has been welcomed with open arms in Queensland since moving east, starring for the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the inaugural Super Netball season.

Bassett withstood a physical barrage to make 49 of 51 shots in the final and was the preferred option of her Australian teammates when it was time to vote for the captaincy.

‘‘We sit down in a room together and do a 3-2-1 vote and read them out so everyone knows who’s voted for who,’’ Bassett said of the method to decide the captaincy.

‘‘There’s no hiding and it definitely gives me a lot of confidence, it’s very humbling that they want me in that position.’’

Bassett replaces incumbent captain Sharni Layton at the helm of the national team.

Layton has withdrawn from the Quad Series with exhaustion, but once fit the defender will rejoin the side and fall under Bassett as part of a four-person leadership group.

The Diamonds will play in two separate Quad Series against South Africa, England and New Zealand, as well as the Constellation Cup against New Zealand, before April’s Commonwealth Games.