Netball: England squad selected for tour of Australia

Sara Bayman has been named as captain for England's May tour of Australia, which will build up to this summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The Manchester Thunder mid-courter takes the armband from Pamela Cookey, who will not travel because of training plans and other commitments at home.

England will play state sides, as well as teams from the Australian Netball League and ANZ Championship.

England, coached by Anna Mayes, are ranked third in the world.

New Zealand and Australia, ranked first and second respectively, are England's main rivals at the Commonwealths, which start in July.

Next month's preparation games give Surrey Storm defender Hannah Reid, Team Bath defender Sam Cook and Thunder shooter Helen Housby their first taste of a senior tour with the national team.

Meanwhile, Cookey's Team Bath team-mates Serena Guthrie and Stacey Francis have been named as vice-captains.

England team for Australia tour

Attack

Rosie Allison (subject to availability) (Team Bath); Kadeen Corbin (Herfordshire Mavericks); Rachel Dunn (Surrey Storm); Helen Housby (Manchester Thunder)

Mid-court

Sara Bayman (captain) (Manchester Thunder); Sasha Corbin (Hertfordshire Mavericks); Serena Guthrie (vice-captain) (Team Bath); Laura Malcolm (Manchester Thunder); Mia Ritchie (Team Bath), Jodie Gibson (Loughborough Lightning)

Defence

Stacey Francis (vice-captain), Sam Cook (Team Bath), Lindsay Keable (Hertfordshire Mavericks), Hannah Reid (Surrey Storm)

Reserves

Beth Cobden (Manchester Thunder), Emma Dovey (Manchester Thunder), Sophie Hankin (Hertfordshire Mavericks), Alice Travis (Manchester Thunder)