The first match of the World Cup is just two days away. Netball writer Robert van Royen has previewed Malawi, South Africa, Jamaica and England as teams that could challenge the Silver Ferns in Sydney. Saving the best for last, it is time to look at 10-time world champion Australia.
HISTORY
It is no secret the Australian Diamonds are the best netball team in history.
But who knew they had won a staggering 94% of their 116 World Cup games since 1963?
That is scarily good.
Australia won its first of 10 championships at the inaugural tournament in England in 1963.
The Silver Ferns got the better of their transtasman rivals four years later in Perth, before Australia rattled off four consecutive gold medals from 1971 to 1983.
New Zealand denied the Diamonds a fifth straight crown in Glasgow in 1987, but five more gold medals followed from 1991 (Sydney) to the most recent World Cup in Singapore four years ago.
KEY PLAYERS
Take your pick - this is a team stacked with quality players across the board.
You get the feeling Australia could name a B team that would be better than everyone else.
But if you had to pick a couple of players, defenders Laura Geitz and Sharni Layton would be right at the top of the list.
That is a formidable combination for opposing shooters to come up against.
Geitz (Firebirds) and Layton (Swifts) were at the top of their game in the recent ANZ Championship.
Layton had 47 interceptions and 104 deflections, while Geitz was not far behind with 40 interceptions and 92 deflections -- 29 more than the next best (Leana de Bruin).
To think Australia's other two defenders in the 12-strong squad are Julie Corletto and Rebecca Bulley.
Good luck, Bailey Mes.
WORLD CUP PROSPECTS
Seven players from the team that won the World Cup in Singapore four years ago are back to chase a third consecutive title.
Australia is the top-ranked team going into the tournament, and its squad boasts a total of 451 test caps.
The Diamonds are in pool A with the Silver Ferns, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Australia is expected to top the pool, with only the Ferns potentially posing a challenge.
If the Diamonds beat the Silver Ferns on Sunday, it will be a record-equalling (1995-1998) 10th straight win against their arch rival.
If Australia wins pool A, it will most likely play Jamaica or England in the first match of the second round.
Such is Australia's dominance, it would take a brave person to bet against an 11th gold medal.
Australia
World Cup squad
Laura Geitz (captain), Kimberlee Green, Caitlin Bassett, Erin Bell, Rebecca Bulley, Julie Corletto, Paige Hadley, Renae Hallinan, Sharni Layton, Natalie Medhurst, Kim Ravaillion and Caitlin Thwaites.
CUP RECORD
Best finish: First (1963, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2011)
Played: 116
Won: 109
Lost: 5
Drawn: 2
