12 Jan 2019

Australia without captain for Netball Quad Series

11:58 am on 12 January 2019

The Australian netball team will be without captain Caitlin Bassett for next week's Quad Series in England.

Bassett sustaining a minor fracture to her left forearm during a practice match in Manchester.

Caitlin Bassett of the Diamonds

Caitlin Bassett of the Diamonds Photo: Photosport Ltd 2015 www.photosport.nz

Bassett will spend six weeks in a splint and is expected to be recovered in time to play in the Australian domestic competition.

While Bassett will take no further 'on-court' part in the Quad Series, she will remain in England with the team for the remainder of the tour and maintain her position of captain of the touring team.

Giants shooter Kiera Austin has been elevated into the Diamonds squad and will travel to England to join the team as an injury replacement player.

Diamonds Head Coach Lisa Alexander is disappointed to see Bassett miss the rest of this test series but is confident in the depth of the current team.

"We are upset for Caitlin, and to have her miss this series isn't ideal, but we're prepared for situations such as this and I'm confident the team we have playing on Sunday, and for the rest of the series, has what it takes to remain on track throughout this tournament," she said.

Australia play South Africa in their opening game in Liverpool (Monday morning NZ time) while New Zealand play England at 7am Monday morning.

Australia play New Zealand a week later in London.