4 Jun 2010

Wilson says double rounds for trans-Tasman comp big mistake

1:09 pm on 4 June 2010

The former Australian netball captain Vicki Wilson has criticised the decision to introduce double-headers into a condensed 2011 trans-Tasman competition.

Wilson says back-to-back matches is the biggest mistake officials could make as it exposes players to a greater risk of injury.

With next year's world championships starting in July in Singapore, the 10-team league will begin five weeks earlier than usual in mid-February.

With three "double rounds" scheduled, seven or eight matches will be played over a weekend rather than four or five and the competition will be played over 15 weeks rather than 17.

But it will retain its controversial uneven format, which disadvantages the stronger Australian sides, as teams play domestic rivals twice but trans-Tasman opponents just once.