WNC selection down to the wire for Sunshine Girls

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

For three members of Jamaica's Sunshine Girls team, the upcoming post-Easter, three-Test Supreme Ventures Sunshine Series against England will mark the end of the road for their World Netball Championships (WNC) dreams.

The four-member Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) selection panel, which consists of technical director Jill McIntosh, Maureen Hall, Patrick Brissett and Vilma McDonald, will make their final cut to the squad ahead of the July 3-10 WNC in Singapore.

Therefore, the April 26-30 series against the number three-ranked England team will take on added importance for the players who will have one last shot at impressing the selectors before the WNC.

Several cuts were already made following the recent series against Trinidad and Tobago, and three more names will be chopped from the current list of 15 players, who have been called up to represent Jamaica against England.

Notable absentee

One notable absentee from the squad to face the British and a virtual guaranteed pick for the WNC is goal shooter Romelda Aiken, who is still in Australia, where she represents the Queensland Firebirds in the ANZ Championships.

McIntosh, an Australian and one of the most successful coaches in the history of the sport, reported that it has been quite a task for the selectors so far, given what she described as a high level of competitiveness and ability among the pool of players.

"It's very difficult because all of the players are striving to be a part of the team and there are some quality players," said McIntosh during yesterday's launch of the series at Acropolis. "There will be some players that will be disappointed in not being named, but it doesn't mean that they should give up, they should strive and work hard for the next series. The competitiveness from all 15 players has been excellent.

"I think all 15 players in the national squad at the moment are all working very hard and are striving to do their best, and the younger ones or the less experienced players are certainly taking the challenge on and making the most of their opportunities," McIntosh added, before underlining that the WNC door has already been closed for those who have already been dropped from the squad.

"The door is certainly closed for the World Championships. After Trinidad and Tobago, we cut five (players) from the squad, so for this series it will only be the 15.

"We have Romelda Aiken still in Australia and after the England series, the selectors will meet and then the final team of 12 will be named. That team will be the team that goes to the World Netball Championships," added McIntosh.