BOWLS Australia unveiled on Tuesday its Australian Jackaroos and Emerging Jackaroos representative squads, which features former Shoalhaven Heads bowler Karen Murphy, to steer the sport towards the upcoming international events over the course of 2019/20.
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The sport's national selectors have cast an eye towards the future when selecting the 20-player top-tiered contingent and 12-player second-tier feeder squad, with the latter possessing a particular emphasis on youth.
While the sole change to the Australian Jackaroos top-tier squad, which includes Murphy, is the inclusion of newly-crowned Australian open women's pairs winner Dawn Hayman (22), making the jump from the pool of Emerging Jackaroos.
The Jackaroos contingent will be contracted for the next 12 months, concluding after the 2020 World Bowls Championships, while the Australian Emerging Jackaroos team will remain intact for the rest of 2019, giving selectors an opportunity to include any in-form additions ahead of 2020's first international competition, the Trans Tasman Test Series in February.
Related content: Wide Ward of Sports: Karen Murphy (Lawn Bowls)
Fresh off steering Australia to four gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the 2019 Asia Pacific Championships, national coach Steve Glasson said a clear focus on stability and youth was taken by the selectors in confirming the Jackaroos squads.
"We felt it was important to reward those existing Australian Jackaroos who, to their credit, have barely put a foot wrong over the past 12 months," Glasson said.
"At the same time, we are delighted to welcome a number of new faces into the Emerging Jackaroos fold, including five teenagers, who we believe will benefit from exposure to the Jackaroos environment and high performance system.
"With the Multi-Nations, Trans Tasman and World Bowls Challenge international events all upon us Imminently in November and the 2020 World Bowls Championships less than 12 months away, we feel the current Jackaroos collective is the right blend of youth and experience to give us the best shot at success at all these events."
Australian Jackaroos
Women: Lynsey Clarke, Kelsey Cottrell, Dawn Hayman, Carla Krizanic, Kristina Krstic, Karen Murphy, Ellen Ryan, Natasha Scott, Chloe Stewart and Rebecca Van Asch.
Men: Barrie Lester, Jesse Noronha, Ray Pearse, Nathan Rice, Wayne Ruediger, Aron Sherriff, Aaron Teys, Benjamin Twist, Corey Wedlock and Aaron Wilson.
Australian Emerging Jackaroos
Women: Tiffany Brodie, Bolivia Millerick, Samantha Shannahan, Brianna Smith, Jessica Srisamruaybai and Kira Bourke.
Men: Jayden Christie, Carl Healey, Joshua Studham, Mason Lewis, Jake Rynne and Jarryd Davies.
Para Sport squad
Athletes with a disability: Tony Bonnell, Joshua Barry, Chris Flavel and Barry Brennan.
Vision-impaired: Jake Fehlberg (director - Grant Fehlberg) and Lynne Seymour (director - Robert Seymour).