Australia v England Netball Test – Adelaide, October 2008 Photo courtesy of Paddynapper on Flickr.com

Tomorrow night will be the first match in the long-anticipated Test Series between England and world no. 1, Australia. Despite beating the Diamonds early on in last year’s World Netball Series, England will be painfully aware that they’ve not beaten Australia in an international match in nearly three decades. Australia will be looking to continue this unbeaten run and its young guns will be buoyed by their two emphatic victories over Scotland in the last week. But the Diamonds know they’ll need to up their game a level or two to combat an experienced England team, whose players are all battle-hardened thanks to the Superleague matches they’ve been competing in since December.

England has a robust defence to say the least, with the likes of Geva Mentor and Sonia Mkoloma in the squad, but the team have been let down in the past by less than accurate shooting and too many errors creeping into their game when faced with tough opposition. England shooters have lacked the clinical finishing so often displayed by their Australian counterparts. But without the likes of sharp shooters Sharelle McMahon and Cath Cox, the Diamonds may struggle against Mentor and Mkoloma, two of the best defenders in the world at the moment.

England manager Sue Hawkins has already talked about the mind games that will be going on as her charges square up to a Diamonds team led by her former international team mate, Norma Plummer. Both coaches are straight-talking, Plummer particularly not being one to mince her words, so post-match interviews will be interesting. Whatever the outcome, both coaches will be looking at the results with an eye to what needs improving in time for the Commonwealth Games in October.

All three Tests look set to be no-holds barred encounters and I’m looking forward to seeing the last Test at the O2. Although the games won’t be televised live (only in our dreams), you can catch the action on Sky Sports 3 & 4 the day after each Test.

Will England finally record a long-awaited win against the Diamonds? Who will have the most to smile about in the end: Hawkins or Plummer?