Grinhams opt out of Australian Team

World Teams

05-Jun-06:
Grinhams opt out of Australian Team

Australia will defend their Women's World Team Title in Edmonton this September without their top two players, Rachael and Natalie Grinham.

The sisters, ranked three and four in the world, were intrumental in Australia's World Team victories in 2002 and 2004 and won six medals for Australia at the Commonwealth Games in March, but have declined to make themselves available for the World Team Championship because of dissatisfaction with Squash Australia's selection procedures.

Speaking exclusively to SquashSite,
the sisters explain:

I have decided not to play for Australia in this year's WWTC for reasons that I can't really explain without possibly getting myself into trouble.

All I will say is that after what happened with the CG Team selection process this year (Melissa Martin's non-selection) I want nothing more to do with those who were involved.

Women's World Teams

I believe that Melissa deserved her position in the team but was shafted by the wording of the criteria (which wasn't really clear). So, I have decided to not play for Australia as I don't agree with their selection criteria.

I notified the CEO of Squash Australia before the commencement of the Commonwealth Games regarding my concern of the wording of the criteria, to which the CEO of Squash Australia agreed and said they were going to change it. The Criteria was changed but not in the way that was discussed, they made it even worse, they added even more leeway for the selectors to choose whoever they want and not who has had the best results.

The team selection for the 2006 Commonwealth Games was very shady, that's why the strongest team did not go to the commonwealth games, and not having changed the criteria in a way to prevent this happening again is the reason I have decided to not make myself available for the team.

It was my choice, but I didn't take it lightly, I love to represent my country and I wouldn't not represent them unless I felt very strongly about the matter.

03-Jun-06:
Young Guns Ready to Fire

Australia’s next generation of female squash stars will have their chance to grab the spotlight when the World Women's Team's Championships are held in Edmonton, Canada in late September.

Players such as Kasey Brown (NSW)(AIS), Lisa Camilleri (QLD), Dianne Desira (VIC), Peta Hughes (QLD)(AIS), Melissa Martin (SA), Amelia Pittock (VIC), Rachel Smith (SA)(AIS), and Donna Urquhart (NSW)(AIS) will all be vying to represent Australia at the prestigious biennial World event.

Australian squash great Michelle Martin will be the Manager/Coach for the event and will be hoping to lead her young charges to further success in the championships.

Australia has taken the title eight times since it was first held in 1981, including the last two, more than any other country.

The younger brigade, who have all been firing on the recent Australian domestic scene, have got their chance because Australia’s highest ranked players, Natalie and Rachael Grinham, have opted to sit out this year’s tournament.

After many years service on Australian national teams, the Grinhams have decided to concentrate on their individual careers and have advised Squash Australia they are not available for Australian selection.

Melissa Martin has bounced back from her disappointment of not making the 2006 Commonwealth Games team and she will keenly contest for a place in the Australian team for Canada.

The team will be chosen following the Australian Open in late June.

Squash Australia Media Liaison Officer

Published on Squashweb.nl with permission of SquashSite.co.uk