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Air NZ brings home its largest planes from US desert amid surging flight demand

Air NZ brings home its largest planes from US desert amid surging flight demand

Air New Zealand is bringing home its 777-300 after almost 700 days in an American desert.

In 2020, the airline sent four of its largest plans – the 777-300ER – to a storage facility in Victorville, California, in the Mojave Desert amid Covid-19 decimating international travel.

At that time it was unknown when they would return.

But now, given the sheer demand for flights, the airline is bringing its largest widebody jet aircraft out of hiding to bolster its network.

Air New Zealand chief operating officer Alex Marren said one of the most exciting things about bringing back these aircraft is the airline is going to hire and rehire people to service them and the rest of it fleet.

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“Since April 2021, we have welcomed back around or hired more than 2000 people across cabin crew, pilots, maintenance, engineers and airports and we’re looking for more,” Mr Marren told news.com.au.

“In our cabin crew alone we’ve hired and rehired around 1000 people, all of whom are really excited to welcome customers on-board.”

Mr Marren said when the hard decision was made to park their 777 fleet, they knew the desert was an ideal environment due to its warm and dry conditions.

“After being stored for almost two years in this climate, they are coming out of long term parking in good condition,” he added.

He explained it takes around six to eight weeks to get a desert-based 777-300 ready to fly and the team are working with a local maintenance provider to reanimate its aircraft out in the desert.

“The process starts off with a good wash to get rid of the dust and grime that has accumulated in long term parking out in the Mojave Desert,” Mr Marren said.

“Our engineering teams then remove the protective shrouds and materials on the wheels, sensors and wings and undertake a thorough servicing and maintenance program to get these aircraft serviceable and ready to fly again.”

He said a lot of work goes into making sure the aircraft is ready to fly — including servicing the wheels on the landing gear to checking upholstery and the in-flight entertainment system.

When is takeoff

The first 777-300 aircraft, registration ZK-OKP, is due to leave Victorville in late August for

Auckland where it will have scheduled maintenance before rejoining the 777-300 operating

fleet from late September.

It can carry up to 342 customers with up to 154 cubic meters of cargo capacity available.

“It’s a welcome change from the type of flying our operating aircrew did through the height of the pandemic and for those stepping back onto a 777-300 for the first time in more than two years, it will be an emotional reunion with one of their favorite aircraft,” Mr Marren said.

ZK-OKP is the first of four Victorville-based 777-300 aircraft to be reanimated and the airline

is working through a program to bring back the three remaining aircraft over the next

year. The airline also has three 777-300 aircraft that were stored in Auckland for the last two

years. Two of these aircraft are back in service, with 777-300 ZK-OKO due to re-enter service

in the coming weeks.

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Business

A Virgin Airlines passenger sparks debate for breaking ‘unspoken’ rule

A Virgin Airlines passenger sparks debate for breaking 'unspoken' rule

A woman flying from Sydney to Melbourne has triggered debate online, after she shared her awkward middle-seat experience where another passenger sitting on the aisle of her row took more than their fair share of space.

In a photo posted to Reddit, the woman on the aisle seat is seen crossing her leg into the middle passenger’s section, with her foot tucked under the middle seat in the row before them.

According to the post’s caption, the woman on the aisle also allegedly removed the middle passenger’s arm from the armrest.

“She’s in the isolated seat. She pushed my arm off the armrest and plopped her feet in my space. The middle seat already sucks enough,” the caption read.

The post has acquired more than 550 comments, causing a stir online over plane etiquette and who has the right to the space.

One thread that received a lot of attention was a Reddit user’s explanation of who has the right to what part of the seat in a three-seat row.

“Window gets an armrest and a wall. Middle gets two armrests. Aisle gets an armrest and a little bit of extra leg. We’re not animals! We live in a society!” they commented.

“This is the way. The few times I’ve flown, I just naturally surrendered the arm rest for the middle seat,” one reply read.

“The armrests in the middle belong to the middle. This is global unspoken plane etiquette,” a third said.

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Others responded to the post with ways they would have handled the situation, including repeatedly going to the bathroom, stretching their legs over the aisle passengers and calling a flight attendant.

“Simple. Ask this person to respect your space. If she does not want to, ask to be moved to another seat because your neighbor is not respecting your space, ”one user commented.

“That’s where you rub your leg against hers and when she looks at you appalled, you can say, ‘Oh sorry. Was I invading your personal space?’” said another.

But not all commenters felt sympathetic towards the middle-seat passenger, seeing the post as her making a “big deal” out of an easy-to-solve situation.

“Can’t we just communicate anymore? Instead of acting all passive aggressive, kindly ask her to move her foot from her. Problem solved in 5 seconds without making a big deal of it. Never understood these posts,” one person responded.

“Just politely ask them to mind their space. Why take a picture and just continue to sit uncomfortably,” replied another.

Plane etiquette has become a hot topic as flights return to their pre-Covid capacities, with mask wearing, sanitization and social distancing where possible joining the list of already-existing unspoken plane rules.

While masks are no longer required in airport terminals, they are still mandatory on most flights and are only permitted to be removed if a passenger is eating or drinking.

For those who forget their mask, most airlines offer travel packs that include a mask and sanitization wipe which can be collected prior to boarding.

As for plane etiquette that existed prior to Covid-19, passengers are reminded not to kick the seat in front of them, wear headphones if listening to music or on-flight entertainment and to leave their shoes on.

“Take showers, brush your teeth, leave the perfume off, don’t eat stinky food (caesar salad and tuna fish I’m talking to you!), and bring headphones. Trust me,” a US flight attendant said in a popular Facebook group.

“These things sound basic, but (if not implemented) add to stress on crowded plans.”

Read related topics:MelbourneSydney

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Kyrie Irving slams Brooklyn Nets coach and GM, Steve Nash, Sean Marks, Kevin Durant, trade rumors, whispers, latest

Kyrie Irving slams Brooklyn Nets coach and GM, Steve Nash, Sean Marks, Kevin Durant, trade rumors, whispers, latest

Kevin Durant doesn’t seem to be the only Nets player not enamored with the leadership stylings of GM Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash.

A source close to the Nets organization indicated Kyrie Irving is none too pleased with the pair, either.

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“Kyrie Irving hates these guys,” the source told The Post’s Josh Kosman. “He feels that Nash is terrible and Marks is bad.”

On Monday, The Post confirmed The Athletic’s report that Durant told Tsai that the Nets head honcho had to choose between the 12-time All-Star or his coach and GM.

The face-to-face meeting in London came after Durant requested a trade out of Brooklyn, a year after signing a four-year, $198 million contract extension.

Durant’s backflip on Nash’s position presents a marked change from how he viewed Nash after the Game Four loss to the Boston Celtics in the playoffs.

Will Durant and Irving still be with the Nets by the time the new season starts? (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Will Durant and Irving still be with the Nets by the time the new season starts? (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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“Steve’s been dealt a crazy hand the last two years,” Durant said.

“He’s had to deal with so much stuff as a head coach, a first-time coach. Trades, injuries, COVID and just a lot of stuff he had to deal with.

“I’m proud of how he’s focused and his passion for us. We all continue to keep developing over the summer and see what happens.”

Despite the stars making their feelings on Marks and Nash known, Tsai appeared to give his GM and coach a vote of confidence.

“Our front office and coaching staff have my support,” he wrote on Twitter Monday evening. “We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.”

The Nets effectively banned Irving from being around the team due to his COVID-19 vaccination status and local mandates until December of last season.

The mercurial guard’s murky status played a major role in derailing the season and caused James Harden to request a trade out of town.

Irving picked up his one-year, $36.5 million player option on June 29, with Durant requesting a trade a day later.

This story originally appeared on the New York Post and has been reposted with permission

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Entertainment

Olivia Newton-John in flashback photo with Daryl Braithwaite

Olivia Newton-John in flashback photo with Daryl Braithwaite

What are the odds that two of Australia’s biggest music stars attended the same primary school together?

A school photo of the late Olivia Newton-John alongside horses hit maker Daryl Braithwaite has emerged, unearthing the little-known fact the duo attended school together.

Braithwaite, 73, shared the black-and-white class photo taken at Christ Church Grammar School in Melbourne in 1961 – some 15 years before Newton-John shot to global superstardom on grease.

“This is a lovely shot to look back at when Olivia was at (school) with all her friends back in 1961. Olivia is 2nd from the right and 3rd row from the bottom,” Braithwaite wrote.

He added: “She also loved all animals and was a beautiful soul who left a legacy that will last forever.”

Braithwaite has previously opened up about how the duo were briefly “boyfriend and girlfriend” while attending school, before Newton-John moved to London in her teens.

“She was one of the prettiest girls in the class, (we were) 11 or 12 I think,” he told The Morning Show in 2017.

“I don’t know how, we must have sat next to each other and thought, ‘Oh yeah that’s good’ and we were talking and then we held hands and then it was over.”

He further opened up about the pair being school sweethearts in an interview with now to lovein 2020.

“Olivia won’t mind saying that we did start out as boyfriend and girlfriend back when we were around 12 or 13 at the most,” he said.

“We held hands and we were in the same class. But then it all disintegrated. I think she left and went to England. I never actually knew that she could sing at the time.”

At the time, Braithwaite said the old friends were still connecting all these years later.

“It is one of those friendships where there was a decade, or maybe more, where we didn’t speak to each other, mainly because we were too busy or whatever, but over the last year or so I have made more contact with her than ever before, and she is lovely, she really is,” he said.

Newton-John died at her ranch in California on Tuesday aged 73, after a decades-long battle with breast cancer.

She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. It went into remission but reappeared in 2013 and then again in 2017. At one point she said she was partly in “denial” about the disease, because if she dwelled upon it too much it would mean she wouldn’t “enjoy life”.

Her family, including husband John Easterling and daughter Chloe Lattanzi, have accepted Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ offer of a state funeral to honor her legacy and celebrate her life.

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Sports

Tennis news 2022: Naomi Osaka retires from Toronto opener with back pain

Tennis news 2022: Naomi Osaka retires from Toronto opener with back pain

Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka retired from her opening match at the WTA Toronto Masters with lower back pain on Wednesday AEST, raising injury concerns with the US Open looming.

Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi advanced when Osaka retired trailing 7-6, 3-0.

Kanepi, a runner-up last week in Washington, needed 71 minutes on court as she broke three times before the Japanese star called it quits.

Defeat drove the emotional Osaka to tears.

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“I felt my back from the start of the match and despite trying to push through it, I just wasn’t able to today,” Osaka said.

“I’d like to pay credit to Kaia for playing well and want to wish her all the best for the rest of the tournament.”

Osaka has played only six matches with a 2-4 record since losing the Miami final in early April to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.

Kanepi, 37, won their only prior meeting five years ago in three sets at the US Open.

“I tried to play my game and stay aggressive. It was a very tight match,” Kanepi said.

“I felt I needed a little more time to get used to new things, but after that I felt comfortable.”

Meanwhile, reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu of Britain exited in the first round, losing 7-6, 6-2 to Italy’s Camila Giorgi.

Despite the setback in the city of her birth 19 years ago, Raducanu kept her spirits up as her US Open title defense draws nearer.

“It was a really good match, to be honest,” Raducanu said.

“The level was pretty high, especially in the first set.

“Camila’s a great opponent. She won this tournament last year. I just need to get better at dealing with players who play probably as quick as she does.”

Defending WTA Canadian champion Giorgi won a combative first set and ran away with the second against the 19-year-old Englishwoman, whose title defense in New York begins in less than three weeks.

The feisty Italian trailed by a break in both sets but showed her spirit by winning the last six games of the contest.

Giorgi needed just over an hour and three-quarters to advance to the second round over the ninth seed who broke into the top 10 ranking less than a month ago.

Raducanu had to hold on in a wild opening set, where serve was broken in six of the dozen games played.

The Briton saved a set point in the 12th game to bring on a tie-breaker, but collapsed to lose seven straight points as Giorgi took the set after 71 minutes.

Raducanu was broken three times in the second set as Giorgi finished off her victory.

– AFP

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Business

US man shocked to find out Vegemite has no expiry date

US man shocked to find out Vegemite has no expiry date

When tourists taste Vegemite for the first time their initial reaction is usually one of shock.

It has a very strong, bitter and distinct taste that you either love or loathe.

But one US man, who has learned to love the thick, dark brown spread, discovered something baffling on a jar he bought several years ago.

Taking to Reddit, he explained he bought the 220g jar from an import store in the US that he has been using it sparingly for quite a while.

“I still have not used it all up,” he wrote.

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But it was when he whipped out the jar a few days ago that he discovered a date to read ’23 June 2011′ on the bottom – learning the spread “doesn’t expire”.

“This morning I got it out to spread on some toast for breakfast. As I was eating it, I wondered how long I’ve been on this same jar.

“I looked for a ‘use by date’, and this is what I saw,” he wrote alongside a photo showing the date underneath the jar.

“If you’ve ever wondered if it’s true that Vegemite has no expiration date, I can confirm that it’s true.”

The man shared the post in the Reddit community group titled ‘Australia’ which boasts almost 1 million members.

And while the fact came as a shock to him, most Aussies were unphased by it with many quick to point out it is made from yeast extract and has a high salt content, which acts a natural preservative.

“It’s 70 per cent salt so you probably have at least another 6 Australian prime minister changes before it stops being effective against drop bears,” one person joked.

“Vegemite is to Australians what honey was to the ancient Egyptians. You will be OK to uncover a jar from a grave in 2000 years and still use it,” another person added.

A third added: “Two things will outlast humanity: 1. Micro plastics 2. Vegemite.”

Others went on to reveal how long they have had their Vegemite jars.

“My Vegemite has a celebratory Commonwealth Games label on it. Not sure which Commonwealth Games, but it’s definitely not the current one,” a Reddit user wrote.

Another Aussie said they found a jar at their nan’s place when they were cleaning the house after she passed away in the late 80s.

“She’d lived there for 40+ years. She found an old jar of Vegemite, like super old looking retro jar and label. Smelled fine, was a bit thicker but a finger dip tasted of it was fine too … but we chucked it anyway bcs we’re not that desperate,” they wrote.

However, others warned Vegemite can go moldy if contaminated with butter.

“I hope you dug the Vegemite out from the bottom to avoid the toxic combination of Vegemite and butter in the jar,” one person wrote.

“Every kid, and Hoges, knows that’s poison (absolutely fine to mix them on toast though).”

A second person wrote: “Vegemite lasts forever, HOWEVER, the butter that contaminates it from double dipping your knife will turn it rancid.”

Another warned: “It will only expire if contaminated with little bits of bread or butter.”

Some suggested to scrape off the top layer to avoid eating any contaminated bits.

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Entertainment

How much did House of the Dragon cost HBO to make?

How much did House of the Dragon cost HBO to make?

More dragons. More money.

HBO’s upcoming fantasy series House of the Dragon reportedly cost even more to make than game of Thrones, Variety reports.

The 10-episode debut season of HotDwhich will premiere its first episode on Binge and Foxtel in Australia on August 22, is said to have racked up a bill of around $300 million.

In comparison, the eighth and final season of GoT cost about $130 million.

While thrones had fewer episodes than HotD for its final season, coming in at just six episodes, the prequel still cost more on a per-episode basis at just under $28.75 million per episode, compared to the $22 million it took to make each episode of GoT.

Back in 2011, before it became an international phenomenon, Thrones’ The first season was allocated $9 million an episode.

But with more computer-generated imagery required thanks to the amount of dragons involved in the storyline (there’s apparently 17 dragons), not to mention immense pressure due to the popularity of thronesit makes sense HBO allocated a substantial amount of cash for the hotly-anticipated prequel series.

In thrones, only Daenerys Targaryen is blessed with owning dragons, which were incredibly rare. However, the mythical creatures fly rampant in HotDwith almost every key character owning one.

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It’s certainly an expensive genre, with Amazon’s upcoming The Lord of the Rings prequel series The Rings of Power reportedly racking up an eye-watering $668 million bill to produce its first season, comprising of eight episodes.

House of the Dragon is set 200 years before the events of the hit fantasy series, and will focus on the rise and fall of House Targaryen after the family becomes embroiled in a nasty civil war.

It’s based on George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire companion Book, Fire&Bloodwith Martin also having co-created the show alongside TV writer Ryan Condal.

House of the Dragon will premiere on Monday 22 August at the same time as the US, streaming on Binge. The series will also be available to watch on Foxtel in 4K Ultra HD

Read related topics:BingeFoxtel

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Sports

Tennis 2022: Nick Kyrgios’ ’emotional growth spurt’ puts world on notice, legend makes huge US Open call, Canadian Open Montreal

Tennis 2022: Nick Kyrgios' 'emotional growth spurt' puts world on notice, legend makes huge US Open call, Canadian Open Montreal

Nick Kyrgios says he has become more “resilient” and is still maturing while he is playing the best tennis of his career.

He continued his hot streak on Wednesday (AEST), defeating Sebastian Baez 6-4 6-4 in their first round match at the Canadian Open in Montreal.

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Kyrgios had his serve broken for the first time since his loss in the Wimbledon final, but recovered to claim a straight sets win.

The Australian is in superb form after he won both the singles and doubles titles at the Citi Open in Washington DC last week.

But Kyrgios is unseeded in Montreal and will next face World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, who he joked was far from the ideal opponent.

“I know I’ve got Medvedev next, which kind of sucks because against pretty much any player in the world right now I feel extremely confident,” Kyrgios told the Tennis Channel.

“Obviously I feel confident going up against him but we all know what he can produce. I’m a bit tired but I’m going to try and give him a good run.”

Kyrgios said having to play two matches in one day in Washington made him realize “that I can be really resilient at times”.

“In the past, I probably would have definitely pulled out of doubles,” he admitted.

“After the (Frances) Tiafoe match, I played Reilly (Opelka) and then Frances in the same day and came out the next day and played during the day basically.”

Kyrgios confessed he hadn’t always given 100 per cent effort on the court in the past but in a scary prospect to his rivals, he said he has turned a corner.

“I know at times I haven’t always been the best example going out on court, kind of not giving my best effort and all that,” he said.

“But I feel like when I have a week like DC, it kind of erases those things and shows how much I’ve grown. It was just a hell of a week, probably my favorite week of my career so far having my girlfriend and my team with me. And winning the doubles title was pretty special as well.

“I’m learning a lot about myself still to this day I’m maturing and hopefully I can keep having these good results.”

Kyrgios is now ranked World No. 37 and if he gets past Medvedev, a deep run at Montreal would ensure he secures a crucial seed at the US Open, which begins later this month.

Former US Open champion Andy Roddick believes Kyrgios is in such a purple patch he is one of the top three contenders to take out the last grand slam of the year.

“It’s a big, big deal to me that he goes into Washington, which is a pretty big event in the lead-up to the US Open,” Roddick said on The Rich Eisen Show.

“Brutal conditions… To go through singles and doubles and not to tap out mentally or physically is a big, big sign.

“I think it puts him into the top two, maybe three, favorites for the US Open.”

Read related topics:Nick Kyrgios

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Sports

Mike Tyson lost pet tiger when he tried to eat neighbor’s dog, boxing news

Mike Tyson lost pet tiger when he tried to eat neighbor's dog, boxing news

Mike Tyson lost his famous pet tiger after the white Bengal tried to eat his neighbours’ dog.

The boxing legend was convinced into buying the wild cat after coming out of prison in 1995 following a three-year stretch.

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Tyson is believed to have had three tigers in all, costing him over $US80,000 each at the time.

But, according to his former boxing manager Shelly Finkel, he was forced to give them up after one fateful walk.

Finkel, who SunSport spoke with in New York, recalled: “His house was between two houses in Vegas.

“And on the right side, facing the street was a famous Vegas performer. And on the left side was a businessman who had some dogs.

“Mike decided to walk one of his Bengal tigers, he’s walking the tiger, and the tiger saw the dog and scales the wall to go and eat the dog.

“The man is looking out his window and sees a tiger coming over the wall to try and eat his dog and Mike is pulling him down.

“He gets him off the fence and that night Mike calls me and says, ‘Shelly, the ASPCA is here, I’m not allowed to keep cats in captivity, how do you think they found out?’

“I said, ‘How do you think they found out? Your neighbor sees him coming over the wall to eat his dog. How do you think they found out.’

“That to me was my favorite story with Mike.”

Finkel managed Tyson right up until his retirement in 2005.

But their history dates back to when Iron Mike was a teenage amateur sensation.

And they first worked together in 1988 when Finkel brokered a closed-circuit pay-per-view deal for Tyson’s win over Michael Spinks.

But following the heavyweight’s infamous 1997 disqualification for biting Evander Holyfield’s ear, Finkel became his full-time manager.

He said: “It was one of the greatest trips of my life. The adventures with Mike Tyson were phenomenal.”

Finkel was in touch with Tyson as recently as two years ago, when the boxing icon made a shock comeback.

Tyson, now 56, drew over eight exhibition rounds with Roy Jones, 53, and talk of a trilogy with Holyfield emerged.

But following Holyfield’s painful beating against former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, 45, the plug was rightfully pulled.

This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.

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Sports

Australian legend Lauren Jackson will play for Opals at the World Cup after retiring in 2016

Australian legend Lauren Jackson will play for Opals at the World Cup after retiring in 2016

The remarkable comeback story of basketball champ Lauren Jackson has continued, with the 41-year-old included in Australia’s 12-strong Opals team for this year’s FIBA ​​Women’s Basketball World Cup nine years after she retired.

An emotional Jackson, who retired in 2016 through a chronic injury after a Hall of Fame career in Australia and the US, said she “didn’t honestly know” if her body would hold up to the rigors of international basketball again.

But Opals coach Sandy Brondello said Jackson would add “another dimension” to the team that has gone through some tough recent times in the wake of Liz Cambage’s controversial exit.

“Making the final cut to 12 is always difficult with so many great athletes pushing for selection” Brondello said.

“The training camp in New York demonstrated how much each of these athletes wanted to compete on home soil. The competition for a spot on the team was fierce.”

“Of course, the inclusion of Lauren is the talking point, but from my perspective, she has put in the work and deserves to be here. She will add another dimension to our team dynamic.”

Jackson began her comeback for local team Albury but is hoping to help the Opals add to the team’s rich World Cup legacy having won silver in 2018, bronze in 2014 and gold in 2006.

“There were a lot of emotions when Sandy rang me, I had a bit of a cry to be honest,” Jackson said.

“I have been working my body hard, and I didn’t honestly know if it was going to hold up to my intense training regimen, but it has and I’m feeling good.

“The whole team have been so welcoming and made me feel at home. The age difference disappears as soon as I step onto the court.

“I believe in this team and what we can achieve. If I can play a part if getting us onto the podium, then the hard work is all worthwhile.”

Shyla Heal was a notable omission from the final 12, with Bec Allen and Cayla George to return for their third World Cup appearance. Marianna Tolo, Steph Talbot, Sami Whitcomb, Tess Madgen and Ezi Magbegor will return for their second appearance and Sara Blicavs, Darcee Garbin, Anneli Maley and Kristy Wallace will make their debut.

Jackson will make her fifth World Cup appearance after last playing in 2010.

The squad is filled with international experience, with Allen (New York Liberty), Magbegor (Seattle Storm), Whitcomb (New York Liberty), Wallace (Atlanta Dream) and Talbot (Seattle Storm) all playing in the WNBA.

The Opals are ranked No.3 in the world and have drawn Group C, with pool matches against France, Serbia, Japan, Mali and Canada tipping off on September 22 in Sydney.

Australian Opals 2022 FIBA ​​Women’s Basketball World Cup team: Bec Allen, Sara Blicavs, Darcee Garbin, Cayla George, Lauren Jackson, Ezi Magbegor, Tess Madgen, Anneli Maley, Steph Talbot, Marianna Tolo, Kristy Wallace, Sami Whitcomb.

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