'No Sunshine Girl is guaranteed a spot'

McIntosh says only the best will be chosen for World Netball Champs

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Jill McIntosh, technical director of the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA), says every member of the Sunshine Girls squad will have to earn their place in the final 12 for the World Netball Championships (WNC), regardless of their seniority and experience.

"No one is guaranteed a spot because you cannot, as national selectors, guarantee someone a spot on the team just because that person has been in a group for a long time. They still have to go out and perform as it is about choosing the players who are performing well," said McIntosh, a WNC-winning coach with the Australia team, in a recent interview with The Gleaner.

The Australian, who recently began working in her position with the JNA, says the squad will be difficult to pick.

"I think there are some good players in there for the selectors and they (selectors) have some very tough decisions to make," said McIntosh.

The Jamaicans, who are ranked fourth in the world, are scheduled to play a two-Test series against Caribbean neighbours Trinidad and Tobago from March 25-27, prior to a three-Test series against England in April.

McIntosh added that all the players will be given an opportunity to play against the Trinidadians because the selectors will be watching these matches, from which they will choose the first five players for the WNC squad.

"It is up to each player to put the performance out there on the court and so everyone will be looked at and everyone will be given a fair and equal viewing, so that the selectors can make their judgement accordingly," McIntosh said.

"The best combination of players will be selected to represent the Sunshine Girls at the World Championships, and so everyone have will to earn the right to guarantee a spot on the court," she reaffirmed.