Two new caps in Diamonds netball squad
Late bloomer Laura Scherian and new Super Netball title-winner Maddy Turner are the uncapped players in Australia's squad for next month's four-match Constellation Cup series against recently crowned world champions New Zealand.
Nine players from this year's World Cup squad have been named in the 13, with midcourter Kelsey Browne (injured), defender April Brandley (pregnant) and shooter-wing attack Steph Wood (resting) out.
Melbourne Vixens shooter Tegan Philip and Collingwood Magpies midcourter Ash Brazill have been recalled.
Lightning wing attack Scherian has been to a number of Diamonds training camps, but gets a first tournament call up at the age of of 31.
"She can play centre as well she's extremely fit, she plays attack and defence equally well and we know she has a bit of inside knowledge on (Lightning and New Zealand's) Laura Langman, that will be good for us as well."
Turner clinched her spot with good Super Netball finals form and combined well with Diamond Sarah Klau in the Swifts title-winning team.
"Sarah and Maddy have been playing together since 17 and unders for South Australia so they've got an instinctive intuitive understanding of each other and we are really looking forward to having that in our environment," Alexander said.
Five more players have also been added to round out the Diamonds' 2019-20 squad - Wood, uncapped shooter Kiera Austin, defender Emily Mannix and midcourters Kate Moloney and Gabi Simpson.
Alexander will bring up her 100th match at the helm in the second Test at Auckland's Spark Arena on October 16.
"It's a great joy for me, it doesn't ever feel like work," Alexander said.
The series starts on October 13 at Christchurch's Horncastle Arena.
Following the Auckland match, the series moves to Australia with Tests at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena on October 20 and Perth's RAC Arena on October 27.
Australia holds the Constellation Cup and have won eight of the nine series, including all of the last six.
The series marks the first meeting between the great rivals since the Silver Ferns's one-goal World Cup-final win over the Diamonds in June.
"We all want to get back out there and have another go and that's what the Diamonds clearly wanted to do immediately after that game,'" Alexander said.
Diamonds squad: Caitlin Bassett (Giants), Ash Brazill (Magpies), Courtney Bruce (Fever), Paige Hadley (Swifts), Sarah Klau (Swifts), Tegan Philip (Vixens), Jamie-Lee Price (Giants), Laura Scherian (Lightning), Caitlin Thwaites (Vixens), Gretel Tippett (Firebirds), Maddy Turner (Swifts), Liz Watson (Vixens), Jo Weston (Vixens).
