Liz Ellis roasts Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich over decision to employ leadership rotation policy
Former national netball captain Liz Ellis has roasted Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich over her decision to not name a permanent skipper for the Constellation Cup.
Marinkovich removed Caitlin Bassett from the role of sole captain early in February and made the radical decision to have a new skipper for each of the four Tests against New Zealand, which has fuelled raging debate ever since.
That debate reignited after Australia's 49-44 loss in the first Test in Christchurch today.
"We felt there was going to be an Australian captain named. It would make sense at the start of a new era with a new coach," Ellis said on Nine's post-match coverage of the first Test.
Australian netball legend Liz Ellis has slammed Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich over her decision to employ a leadership rotation policy. Getty
"Do you stick with Caitlin Bassett? Do you move to a new captain? She felt that she wanted to rotate the leadership. I feel like that's the wrong thing to do. As a former Australian captain I want a leader named.
"I felt like tonight there was nobody to stand up and rally the troops, especially when Caitlin Bassett went off. There's players who are out there trying to prove that they should be leaders and that's terrific.
"But that probably is a reflection of how Stacey Marinkovich operates. I think she sits back and will take her time - whatever time she feels she needs to make the right decision - regardless of what people like me or Catherine say."
Marinkovich opted for Bassett to captain Australia in the first Test despite last month's demotion.
Bassett had been Australia's sole captain since August 2017 and has long been a Diamonds mainstay.
Australian netball great Catherine Cox believes there's no need to have a rotation policy because there's a stand-out captaincy candidate.
"To me it is precious time that you're wasting. I also think that it's very obvious, very evident, who your next captain should be - and that's Liz Watson," Cox said.
"I think she's the best leader on the court, she's always on the court, one of the most consistent and high-performing in that side. Give her the role."
