England expect tough series

Maggie Jackson, head coach of the England's netball team, said despite the Sunshine Girls' recent disastrous tour against top-ranked Australia and New Zealand Down Under, they will not be taking them lightly when both teams meet in their two-Test National Commercial Bank (NCB) Sunshine Series at the National Indoor Sports Complex next week.

"We are under no illusion and we are expecting a tough series because I know that they have some players coming back into the squad and so we are expecting a different line-up compared to the one that played against New Zealand and Australia," said Jackson in an interview with The Gleaner yesterday, upon her team's arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport.

"We have beaten them when they came over to England and we have also beaten them in crucial games, but I know it will be difficult for us to beat them at home," she said.

Capable of winning

The first Test will be played on Wednesday, September 1 and second is slated for two days later, and Jackson said they are capable of winning.

"... I think we can certainly beat the Jamaicans, but we have to play consistently. We have to really raise the bar and not turn over the ball because we know where they have their strengths and weaknesses," reasoned Jackson, whose number three-ranked team is rated one place above Jamaica in the world.

Jackson added that they are really looking forward to the series because it forms part of their build-up and planning not only for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, but also for the World Championships next year.

"It is always tough whenever we play against Jamaica, but it is about exploiting them and trying to plan for the important games in Delhi," she said.

"I think we have strength in all three areas because in mid-court we have four very strong players. Our shooters are now competing for places on the court and defensively we are known to be a top line-up."

- R.B.