Australian shooter Natalie Medhurst has had a career to envy but says nothing tops the Diamonds winning the 2011 netball world title.

Medhurst was key to Australia’s heart-stopping 58-57 win over New Zealand in extra time in the final of the world championship in Singapore.

While her shooting partner Caitlin Bassett scored the winning goal, Medhurst ran the Silver Ferns’ defence ragged and earned player of the match, which was the third game in succession she’d claimed the award.

The 27-year-old, who helped steer Queensland to victory in the trans-Tasman netball competition earlier this year, said the 2011 win even tops 2007, when the Aussies also pipped the Kiwis.

“It is absolutely unbelievable.

“In ‘07, to win in Auckland was outstanding but, back then, I don’t think I really understood what it was all about it,” said Medhurst, who only made her debut just before those titles.

Medhurst also endured the pain of losing last year’s Commonwealth Games gold medal to the Silver Ferns in Delhi, with that match another classic decided in double extra time.

She said the Australians used that loss to spur them on to victory in Singapore.

“To lose the Comm Games in such dramatic circumstances, it was absolutely heart-breaking.

“We didn’t shy away from that. We talked about it and addressed things and I think it helped us get across the line in this one.”

Medhurst played the entire 74 minutes of the final.

She was integral in repeatedly feeding the ball in to towering sharpshooter Bassett, who scored the winning goal to separate the two teams in the final second of the match.

“They think we’re the pretty ones but we tend to get put under a bit of pressure at times.”

With a number of youngsters like Bassett, Erin Bell, Sharni Layton and Chelsea Pitman in the squad, Medhurst said she hopes the side will stick together for the next world championship in 2015 in Sydney.

“That would be great,” she said.

“We were able to put some different things out there that the opposition hadn’t seen before.

“It would be nice if the majority of us had that experience in 2015.”

Coach Norma Plummer also paid tribute to the young brigade and said they had brought something extra special to the side.

“Just the sensational feeling within the team that some of these young ones brought.

“It brought back to the older players what it’s all about, because they’re so excited about everything and I think some of the older players sometimes forget that.

“They’ve been such a bonus. They all just wanted it so much for one another.”

She plays the same. She is of identical height. She even looks similar. But whatever you do, don’t call Natalie Medhurst the new Sharelle McMahon.

Today’s final represents the first world championships or Commonwealth Games since 1995 that Australia has gone on court without the talismanic McMahon, who ruptured her Achilles tendon in March, ruling her out of the tournament. Medhurst has long been touted as the natural replacement but refuses to validate those claims.

“I’m certainly not the new Sharelle,” says Medhurst. “When she went down, everybody knew they had to step up to try and cover that loss. I won’t be able to replace her but if I am consistent and solid I will go some way towards making up for her absence.”

“She has always admired Sharelle,” adds coach Norma Plummer. “Sharelle’s been her pin-up and they have similar styles but she is her own person.”

“We miss Sharelle but we know we can do it without her,” says Diamonds captain Natalie von Bertouch. “Natalie [Medhurst] has stepped up amazingly well and is playing brilliantly.”

Medhurst is quite possibly the best all-round attacker in the sport. She combines great agility and tremendous pace with a sure shot from anywhere in the circle.

She is typically cool under pressure, has wonderful vision and a wide passing range.

While most observers focused on Romelda Aiken, Medhurst was another key to the Firebirds’ unbeaten 2011. She shot 338 goals at 83.7 per cent, and had 141 assists, making her the only non mid-courter in the top 15 assist leaders.

Medhurst burst on to the scene in 2004 for the Thunderbirds and made her international debut in 2007. She will win her 38th cap today, but was something of a late bloomer.

“She has built on her game over the years and worked on the feedback she was given,” says Plummer. “When she was younger, she would fade out of games. We would tell her that she went missing but she didn’t get it for a while.

“Then she started to understand - she needed to come back into the game and start making different moves. Instead of taking the initiative sometimes, she used to hang back but she has well and truly gone past that.”

While this Australian team has plenty of variation in their attacking line - including the option of playing “two talls” in 1.88m Catherine Cox and 1.92m Caitlin Bassett - Medhurst will probably cause the most headaches for New Zealand’s much-vaunted defensive foursome.

“Her pace and speed make her very hard to mark,” says Ferns defender Katrina Grant. “She doesn’t play the typical New Zealand style of goal attack so it is always tricky. The key is to try and get in her head early - before she gets set and confident.”

Off court Medhurst is a relaxed, down-to-earth type who doesn’t even own a netball.

“That sounds bad, doesn’t it?” laughs Medhurst. “But there are always plenty lying around and one is always shoved in my hand when I need one.”

McMahon would shoot 200-300 goals a day as part of her routine, while Irene van Dyk is equally fastidious. Medhurst takes a different approach, admitting she doesn’t shoot every day and only likes to practise under pressure, to simulate game situations.

Meanwhile, the Australians were not short of confidence at an entertaining supporters breakfast attended by more than 500 fans on Friday.

When asked what she expected to see going into the last two minutes of the final, Plummer replied drily: “Australia up by five.”

The morning event was themed “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” and featured the team answering off-the-wall questions from host and Australian legend Vicki Wilson. Among the trivia, the fans learned that Caitlin Bassett is obsessed with cupcakes, Natalie von Bertouch likes to nap for exactly 59 minutes each game day and comeback defender Julie Corletto is nicknamed “Phar Lap” because she is such a powerhouse.

Von Bertouch also showed off her captain’s necklace, the jewelled tradition started by Liz Ellis and handed on to each skipper ever since.

The world championship netball final is live on Sky tonight, at 7.30pm.

Australia has fought to a 52-47 win over New Zealand in the first trans-Tasman netball Test at Arena Manawatu.

Behind for the bulk of the match, the Diamonds turned around a 29-25 halftime deficit with a 14-9 third quarter before controlling the final 15 minutes.

The Silver Ferns looked comfortable in the opening half, but couldn’t respond as the Australians upped the ante, forcing errors and converting the turnovers.

It was the teams’ first meeting since New Zealand’s epic double extra time 66-64 win at October’s New Delhi Commonwealth Games.

The Silver Ferns started strongly in breaking the first Australian pass, but the Diamonds bounced back to slot the next five goals for a confidence-boosting early lead.

The New Zealanders responded almost immediately, their feed into Irene van Dyk and Tutaia instrumental in levelling the scores.

For the rest of the quarter, the teams went goal for goal, Tutaia’s killer long-range bombs matched by Natalie Medhurst’s sharp circle movement and accurate shot over the gangling arms of Anna Scarlett.

New Zealand’s 15-14 lead at the end of the first quarter disappeared early in the second, but neither team could edge out past a three-goal lead.

A four-goal run late in the second quarter saw New Zealand go into halftime with a useful 29-25 lead.

The Diamonds scrapped their way back into the game in the third quarter, lifting their defensive pressure.

With three minutes until the three-quarter mark, they hit the front for the first time since early in the second term, maintaining composure to lead 39-38 with 15 minutes remaining.

The second and final Test is in Auckland on Sunday.

The Victorian all-rounder finished with figures of 4-15 from seven overs as the hosts finished on 7-218 in response to the tourists 6-308 in the opening match of the tour.

Mitchell Johnson dismissed the Bangladesh openers Mithun Ali and Rony Talukder for six, but a 149-run partnership from Raqibul Hasan (65) and Maisuqur Rahman (68) threatened to leave the new skipper red-faced.

However, Hastings came to the rescue when he bowled Hasan and then trapped Alok Kapali and Shuvagoto Hom in front for first-ball ducks to complete a tremendous over.

Hastings then had Rahman caught behind by Tim Paine before taking a catch off Xavier Doherty’s bowling to dismiss Mominul Haque for 15.

Former skipper Ricky Ponting earlier led the way with the bat for the tourists scoring 69 from 74 balls.

Opener Brad Haddin (67) and Clarke (56) also passed 50 before retiring to give other batsmen some time at the crease.

Mike Hussey finished unbeaten on 52 from just 50 balls as the Australians gear up for their three-match one-day series against the host nation which begins on Saturday.

Haddin and Shane Watson put on 31 for the first wicket before the latter was caught by Alok Kapali off Dolar Mahmud’s bowling for 13.

Haddin and Ponting then put on a stellar 133-run partnership that ended when Haddin retired after smashing eight fours and a six.

Cameron White’s troubling form continued when he was trapped lbw for just four by Hom, while Steve Smith was the other batsman to fail, run out for two.

Hom finished with 2-52 for the BCB XI, while Mahmud, Farhad Reza and Mahbubul Alam all grabbed one wicket each.

Richmond has signed one of Ireland’s brightest, young sporting stars . . .

John Heslin, an 18-year-old Agricultural Science student from University College Dublin, who has shone at hurling, soccer and Gaelic football, will be selected by the Tigers as an international rookie in next December’s Rookie Draft.

Heslin currently plays Gaelic football for his university team, as well as at senior level for county club Westmeath.

As a junior, he represented Ireland in soccer, and made such an impression that he was invited to trial at then English Premier League club Derby County.

In between, the strongly-built, 189cm Heslin has excelled at Ireland’s other indigenous sport, hurling.

Moving forward, Richmond believes he has the necessary attributes to make a successful transition to AFL football.

Richmond’s Recruiting Manager Francis Jackson and Recruiting Officer Matthew Clarke spotted Heslin playing Gaelic football for UCD in the Sigerson Cup, a strong Universities’ competition, in early March.

“It’s a really big competition and it was a terrific schedule this year because they had quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals on three successive days (March 3-5),” Jackson said.

“We saw John play in the first game and, quite frankly, he was a standout, with his athleticism and all his movement skills, which were fantastic.

“Also, in terms of his decision-making, understanding of the play, and being unselfish in bringing teammates into the game, he was head and shoulders above the rest.

“He’s very quick, has got good lateral movement, an outstanding vertical leap, and he ran really hard playing in the midfield.

“We felt that he had all the athletic traits, as well as a great understanding of their game.

“We were lucky that his team won and we saw him again the next day . . .

“He was also very competitive . . . At crucial stages in the game, he was the one who lifted and brought his team back into it.

“When they lost, and didn’t make the final, I just watched him, and he was absolutely devastated . . .”

Having really liked what they saw of Heslin, the next step for the Tiger talent scouts was tracking him down for a meeting.

“We chased his phone number up . . . The game finished on the Saturday, and we organised to go out to his family farm, about an hour and 15 minutes out of Dublin, on the Tuesday night, to meet him, his father, Peter, and his mother, Margaret,” Jackson said.

“After meeting the family, we were confident that John came from a strong background.  He’s quite an independent kid, too . . . he’s doing second-year Agricultural Science, and lives with a couple of mates.

“We also found out, in our travels, that John had been out to Essendon last year for a three-week trial and that they’d made contact with him again a couple of weeks before we saw him . . .

“Our whole focus then was to ensure we acted quickly and decisively.  Consequently, we met them on the Tuesday and then flew back here on the Friday morning, with John and his father.

“Initially, we were going to stay a bit longer, and see some more games, but given that we’d found what we were looking for, we just wanted to get back.”

Heslin spent a week at Tigerland, his first day coinciding with the football department’s move into the ME Bank Centre’s magnificent, new facilities.

“It certainly made it a bit easier showing him through here, rather than where we used to be,” Jackson said.

“But, as I said to his father, this facility is fantastic, but clubs are about people and, unless you have the right people involved, who are going to coach, nurture and develop your kids, it doesn’t matter what type of building you’ve got . . .

“The whole focus on bringing John back here was not for us to watch him, because I was confident that he was a strong, competitive, independent kid, with all the athletic traits, and a hunger to learn, but more to show his father what type of environment he was letting his 18-year-old son come to.

“Overall, I think his father was very happy with what he saw at the Club, and he had a good rapport with a lot of people around the place . . .

“And, John’s ability to very quickly pick things up out on the track, and understand what professional sport’s all about, was particularly impressive.”

The plan now is for Heslin to is to finish his university commitments and the Gaelic football season with Westmeath, before returning to Tigerland for an intensive 10-week football education program, that will provide him with a solid head-start leading up to his official selection as a Richmond rookie at the end of the year.

Jackson is enthusiastically awaiting Heslin’s entry into the world of AFL football . . .

“He was way above anything else that we saw and, quite frankly, he can be a really exciting prospect for us if he continues to show that eagerness to learn and plenty of initiative,” Jackson said.

After failing to defend the Sheffield Shield and Twenty20 titles it had won in the previous two summers, Victoria shrugged off its limited-overs curse, crushing Tasmania by 84 runs at the MCG.

With the Bushrangers having been beaten in the past four one-day finals, including a 110-run drubbing at the hands of Tasmania last season, McDonald enjoyed the emphatic win.

“You couldn’t possibly lose five in a row, could you?” he said after the Tigers, set 195 for victory in a final shortened to 38 overs each because of two rain delays, were bowled out for 109.

“It’s really nice to win one. We went out there and attacked the game. We lost the toss and they got the better of the conditions, but we said we were going to play positive all the way through,” McDonald said.

“Maybe some rash shots came about from becoming ultra-positive but we stuck to our guns.”

A game-high 61 off 69 balls from veteran Brad Hodge and a brilliant effort by left-arm paceman Dirk Nannes (3-29 off 10 overs) were the keys to Victoria’s win.

“We got the ball in the right areas and created some chances,” McDonald said.

“I think we hung on to to everything that came our way as well, which makes a difference. Last year we dropped two early catches, which probably turned the game.”

“We were sharp in the field, sharp with the ball and Nannes set the standard again, and when he does that we normally win the game.”

McDonald praised the effort of 36-year-old Hodge.

“We said we were going to attack the five overs after the break to see if we could get that lead as big as possible - and I think we got 50 runs off that five-over period and that’s what probably turned the game. It was brilliant by the old boy,” McDonald said.

“He’s got 500-plus runs for the year, so we’ll try to get him to go around again next year, I suppose.”

Tasmania skipper George Bailey conceded Victoria was too good.

“Disappointing, obviously outplayed. Not enough runs with the bat, particularly with our senior players not stepping up today,” Bailey said.

“That is the quickest Dirk has bowled against us in a fair while and he certainly swung the ball. He bowled very well and was backed up well by (Mark) Cleary at the other end.”

An unbeaten 160 from Tasmanian skipper George Bailey has led the Tigers to a remarkable five-wicket Sheffield Shield victory over Victoria deep into the final day at Bellerive Oval.

Needing 319 to claim outright points, and 130 in the final session, the Tigers cruised past the total in the 91st over of play on Monday and the 95th for the innings.

Bailey was outstanding as he notched up his first ton of the summer - the skipper choosing the best possible time to do so as he blasted his 160 off 235 balls in a victory that boosted the Tigers’ chances of competing in the final.

The result sees Tasmania consolidate second on the Shield table with 26 points, just four behind competition leader New South Wales.

Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland all remain on 14 points, with their chances of competing in the final severely dented, as they are 12 points adrift of the Tigers with just three games to play.

Going into tea at 4-189, the Bushrangers needed six wickets in the final session to claim their third outright win of the summer.

Travis Birt obliged his opponents in the eighth over of the session, struck on the pad by Jon Holland and dismissed for 26.

But any hope Victoria had of taking Tasmania’s last five wickets evaporated as Bailey and James Faulkner added an unbeaten 106 for the sixth wicket to see their side home.

Faulkner finished with 47 off 77 deliveries, although he was fortunate not to have been caught in the 87th over of the innings when he smashed a six to deep square leg that only just evaded the hands of a leaping fielder on the ropes.

Bailey was also somewhat fortunate as he survived a big appeal for lbw off the very first ball he faced on Monday morning.

Nick Kruger (9) had just edged Damien Wright through to the keeper when Bailey was struck on the pads with a full and straight delivery, although the umpire felt there was some bat involved first.

Bailey was also fortunate not to be run-out in the second-last over before tea as he was smartly sent back to his crease by Birt.

Resuming play at 1-1 on a glorious day for cricket by the River Derwent, Victoria sensed a kill when Kruger was dismissed with the score at 2-21.

But Bailey and Alex Doolan (54) set about rebuilding the innings, adding 112 for the third wicket as they wrested the momentum back from the Bushrangers.

Holland finished the pick of the Victorian bowlers, claiming 2-59 from 25 overs, while Wright, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle all took one wicket apiece.

Chasing 259 to win, the Bushrangers looked a lost cause at 8-192, before Maxwell blasted 61 from 27 balls - the fastest ever half century in Australian one-day cricket.

Peter Siddle (25) also starred with the bat, hitting the winning run off the last ball of the night.

The result almost certainly gives Victoria a berth in the one day final.

Mark Cosgrove (120) and George Bailey (107) were the stars for the hosts with a 221-run partnership, which turned the game on its head after the Tigers were 2-7.

The pair took the Tigers into the break at 2-80, and put their foot on the throttle in the latter stages, smashing 148 runs from 122 balls before their massive stand came undone.

Jon Holland and McDonald bore the brunt of the offensive, going for 38 and 36 from their five overs.

The task looked beyond the Bushrangers, who lost 4-14 shortly before the break.

Aaron Finch was caught at deep cover for 15 trying to play an ambitious lofted drive off James Faulkner, who had the impressive figures of 2-18 from his six overs.

Evan Gulbis made just one run in his one-day debut for the Victorians before skying an attempted pull shot to fellow first-gamer Tom Triffitt to give Faulkner his second.

Brendan Drew then claimed the vital wicket of Brad Hodge, who played all round a straight delivery to be bowled for four.

Andrew McDonald was bowled in embarrassing fashion by former Queenslander Nick Kruger - who bowls part-time offspin.

Matthew Wade was defiant in his knock, but the task looked hopeless when he fell for 67.

Rob Quiney (36) and Michael Hill (30) also chipped in, but Maxwell was breathtaking, coming into his own with the score at 8-192.

He hit eight fours and three sixes in his record-breaking knock, before being caught in the deep by Bailey off the bowling of Ben Hilfenhaus.

Peter Siddle then combined with Jon Holland to steer the Vics to a truly remarkable victory, hitting the winning run with a dangerous single off the bowling of Drew.

Tasmania had a shot at the stumps, but missed.

Maxwell, who was named man of the match, said the Bushrangers always gave themselves a chance of winning.

“Vics never say die,” he said.

“It’s the thing we always try to live by, and we showed that tonight and we’ve showed it a few times in the past few years.”

Maxwell said the win, which puts the Bushrangers in outright first position, would give the side plenty of confidence for its final game against NSW in two weeks.

“We’ll go into the next few games feeling untouchable no matter what position we’re in,” he said.

“Especially against NSW, who we did so well against last time with Wade scoring a hundred.”

Tigers coach Tim Coyle said his side was gutted by the loss.

“That was pretty average,” he said.

“We just didn’t execute well … in the last ten overs we went for over 100 runs.

“Our experienced players just didn’t stand up under pressure.”

The man they call “The Duke”, who hopes to get another chance for more English scalps today at the WACA Ground, is suddenly pushing for a spot in the starting XI for the February 21 World Cup opener against Zimbabwe.

But just who the hell is this man mountain who stood in the middle of the SCG on Wednesday night and hit the winning runs for Australia?

Many won’t know he grew up in western Sydney and attended school with Penrith Panthers rugby league superstar Michael Jennings.

Or that he was well into his teenage years when tossed a cricket ball to bowl by former Test great Geoff Lawson.

Hastings, 25, who has made his name with the Victorian Bushrangers, spent a rare day off this week at Bondi Beach with his girlfriend and was hardly recognised.

While his five wickets at 50 in six matches are not flash stats, it is behind the scenes that Hastings has really left his mark.

As Brett Lee said: “He’s the kind of guy who could bowl 100 overs in a day. He runs in and runs in, he’s a massive fella, strong and loves a contest.”

Hastings and Lee spent 25 minutes working on variations during a recent Adelaide net session and the advice paid immediate dividends when a slower bouncer claimed English dangerman Kevin Pietersen at the Gabba last Sunday.

All eyes will be on the World Cup as of tonight and Hastings wants to be part of the campaign.

“I’m not here to make up the numbers, I want to make the final 11 for the World Cup, as everyone does,” Hastings said. “I think the more games you play the more comfortable you feel.

“It was the same with Victoria, the first few games you’re trying to find your feet. Now I’ve relaxed a bit more and the nerves are settling, you think more about it (your game) and try to play good cricket.

“We’ve got four or five bowlers whose record speak for themselves. They’re fantastic cricketers and it’s good to be around that group and learn from them.”

Hastings said like all newcomers to the international scene, England was happy to target him with the bat.

“I think they’ll keep doing that for the rest of the season and keep targeting me,” he said. “They’re going pretty hard at the start and that suits me down to the ground. I suppose the top four or five guys, when they come in they’re positive and aggressive and trying to get one over the new bloke. It really doesn’t worry me.”

John Hastings finds his niche ahead of cricket World Cup

John Hastings, Australia’s newest all-rounder is bracing himself to take on the role of an international player as he reckons that he will be the key for Australia’s World Cup defence in the sub-continent next month.

“The wickets are lower and slower (in India), so you have to mix your pace up a little bit, and that’s why I think I have been brought into the team”, Hastings stated.

The 25-year old right-handed batsman stated that even though he is not a regular on the international scene, his experience on sub-continent pitches will be helpful for Australia’s World Cup campaign.

Hastings said that he made his international debut in India and the massive crowds there always help him to strive for better performances.

India will be sharing the hosting rights of the World Cup 2011, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Even though teams the world over are relying on players, who have developed themselves on the international stage, Australia is relying on the giant all-rounder, who is comparatively new on the scene.

However, Hastings appeared confident after contributing to Australia’s bid to win the seven-match One Day series against England.

He helped Brett Lee and Shane Watson dismiss England for just 198 runs in 45.3 overs at Brisbane on Sunday. Australia soared to victory in the fifth One Day match by 51 runs, winning the seven-match series 4-1.

Hastings and Steven Smith (1 for 29) effectively shut down England’s chase of 249 runs. The explosive pair was responsible for slamming England’s strong middle-order when they claimed Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Eion Morgan’s wickets in a span of just eight runs. England was reeling on 105 for the loss of six wickets and Australia’s win seemed inevitable.

The Victorian all-rounder especially showed immense potential in the absence of Shaun Tait, who is nursing a thigh strain. However, Hastings is eyeing a World Cup berth after steadily moving towards a top-order boost.

The tall all-rounder enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2009-10 as he was Victoria’s leading wicket-taker in all three formats of cricket. He raked in 36 wickets at an average of 26.13 and smashed 446 runs at an average of 37.16 at the Sheffield Shield matches. Yet, the intimidating player has appeared in just five ODIs and one international Twenty20.

However, the former rugby player was sure that his batting background will help him in the long-run. He was a batsman as a junior in New South Wales but conceded that he can “Come in at Number 8 and contribute. My batting is probably not there at the moment, but I’ve got to play my role as best I can”, he stated.