SUCH was April Letton’s emotion at being picked to make her Australian netball debut, a phone call to her boyfriend led to mass confusion.
Letton has been picked in the Australian Diamonds team to tour England this month.
‘‘I called my boyfriend and he couldn’t hear what I was saying because I was crying so much,’’ Letton said. ‘‘He thought I said someone had died but I was saying I was picked in the Diamonds.
‘‘Once we cleared that up, he was very excited.’’
Letton, 22, has had a meteoric rise from Sutherland Shire’s junior ranks to international netballer.
Following her debut 2012 season with the NSW Swifts, Letton was picked in Australia’s Fast5 side. That squad was coached by Australian mentor Lisa Alexander, with Letton’s strong performances cementing her in the Diamonds squad to play three Tests against England
‘‘Having Lisa as the coach is always a good confidence booster,’’ Letton said. ‘‘I was happy with how I played and I think whenever you get picked for any Australian side, it means good things.
‘‘I’m still in a bit of shock that I’ve made the Diamonds and I’m really looking forward to it.’’
Letton has long been earmarked as a player of the future. She was picked in Australia’s inaugural under-19 team and the Heathcote Waratahs junior has made a host of other state teams.
Fellow shire junior and her NSW Swifts skipper Kimberlee Green praised Letton’s selection.
‘‘She is a very special player and person,’’ Green said. ‘‘She goes about her business and doesn’t boast about it or expect rewards. She is just a quiet achiever.
‘‘I know the coaching staff have great faith in her abilities and she is a great inclusion.’’
The Australian team leave on January 14.
Meanwhile, Green is on track to be fit for the Swifts first match of the season against West Coast Fever on March 25.
Green has not played since October after having an operation to repair an ongoing foot problem. She also had finger surgery.
‘‘I’m running every second day,’’ Green said.
‘‘I’ll get reassessed this month and then I can start doing every season.
‘‘It’s just about monitoring my foot and if it flares up I have to bring my exercise down.’’
