Australian netball coach hails youth

Australian coach Norma Plummer hailed the emergence of a `ginger ninja’ shooter and a dynamic midcourter as her youthful team finished fourth in the World Netball Series tournament in England.

The Australian side, captained by Adelaide shooter Kate Beveridge, finished with a record of two wins, two draws and three losses in the six-nation tournament in Liverpool, played under the abridged `Fastnet’ format.

While the results would seem unimpressive for a team used to winning tournaments, Plummer emphasised her squad was the youngest at the tournament.

Each of their losses was by two goals or less and they were the only team to beat tournament winners New Zealand.

England and Jamaica fielded near full strength lineups including most of their Commonwealth Games squad, while eventual winners New Zealand also had a more experienced squad.

However, Plummer’s team lost 26-25 to England in the semi-finals and 30-29 to Jamaica in the third-fourth place playoff.

“Conversely, Australia fielded a young squad with no-one over the age of 25 and containing just four players with Test experience,” Plummer told AAP.

“We didn’t have one Commonwealth Games player, how can I be disappointed with a bunch of kids, they were fantastic.”

Plummer said NSW Swifts’ midcourter Ashleigh Brazill was Australia’s best player and also praised Melbourne Vixens’ shooter Tegan Caldwell.

“Ashleigh Brazill was absolutely outstanding, she was just a dynamo out there and (together with) Tegan Caldwell really stamped their mark on this tournament,” Plummer said.

“They called Caldwell the `ginger ninja’, she was really good.”

Plummer felt the Fastnet concept with its six minute quarters, unlimited substitutions, two-point goals for successful shots taken outside the circle and a power play quarters had a lot of potential, but felt some rules needed to be reviewed.

Australia’s first international commitment of 2011 will be a three-Test series away to Jamaica in January.