Geitz sidelined for England Test in Sydney

Diamonds defender Laura Geitz has been sidelined with a minor grade strain in her right calf and will not take part in the Australian Diamonds third Test against England at Allphones Arena in Sydney on Sunday.

Diamonds medical staff made the recommendation after Geitz sustained the injury at a training session on Friday.

“If we played her tomorrow, the danger was she could have been re-injured or worsened the injury and therefore would have left her out against New Zealand, and we weren’t prepared to take that risk

“If being out of this Test means that she’s got time to recover and be ready for the three Tests against New Zealand, it is an easy decision,” Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said.

Geitz joins captain Natalie von Bertouch (stress reaction – sesamoid bone) and defender Mo’onia Gerrard (calf strain), on the Diamonds’ injury list.

The defender said she was disappointed not see out the England series but has her sights on joining the Diamonds for their three-Test series against New Zealand.

“We’ve got three big games against the Silver Ferns; the injury is nothing too serious at the moment so if I do all the right things hopefully I’ll be right for the first game against New Zealand.”

Geitz will return home to Queensland on Saturday afternoon for four days of rest before travelling with the team to Perth on Wednesday for the first Test against the New Zealand Silver Ferns next weekend.

2011 Holden Netball Test Series Dates:
9 Oct – Australian Diamonds (62) def England (47), Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle
12 Oct – Australian Diamonds (67) def England (36), AIS Arena, Canberra
16 Oct – Australian Diamonds v England, Allphones Arena, Sydney
23 Oct – Australian Diamonds v New Zealand Silver Ferns, Burswood Dome, Perth
26 Oct – Australian Diamonds v New Zealand Silver Ferns, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
30 Oct – Australian Diamonds v New Zealand Silver Ferns, Hisense Arena, Melbourne.


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