England’s Vitality Roses itching for redemption against depleted Jamaica in two-match international series

England face Jamaica in London this weekend in the second of three international series from next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Following a disappointing 2-1 series loss to New Zealand, despite some shining moments throughout, the Roses will be looking to boost their confidence as the summer inches closer.

Jamaica, however, may not be providing quite the same challenge as England have come to expect from the world No 3-ranked team, as the Sunshine Girls are missing some stars.

• Metcalf England return seven months postpartum but admits to 'mum guilt'
• Latest netball news, reports, podcasts and videos
• Greenway: England will have huge frustrations over New Zealand series defeat
• Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

"We are in no pressure facing England; we are talking about performances, we are talking about goals," head coach Sasher Gaye Henry-Wright told the Jamaica Observer.

"We know what we have, we know what we are going to England with. We just have to work.

"This is the best team we can put together right now, and we are very happy that we could put a team together despite not having our senior and experienced players.

"And, it goes to show that our programme just needs to be more premier - having more coaches, having the pathway programme readily available that when these times come, we can pull from it.

"We don't have that right now because of funding. We only have a senior programme and the U21s and so there's nothing happening, so because of the [lack of] money we are not able to do it.

"We still need to go out and recruit players; we need to look around and see what we have in Jamaica but we are still optimistic and we believe that things we be better soon."

Those key players missing from the squad include captain Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, who - alongside Romelda Aiken-George, Shimona Nelson, and Latanya Wilson - has withdrawn from the squad.

Kadie-Ann Dehaney is also not named on the squad list but does play alongside Fowler-Nembhard at West Coast Fever, who have returned to pre-season training in the Suncorp Super Netball league.

Jodie-Ann Ward will also be absent after rupturing her ACL in May while playing for Giants in the SSN.

Adelaide Thunderbirds household favourite, Shamera Sterling, is also not part of the squad. She gave birth to her son in October.

It's not all gloom for the Sunshine Girls though as seasoned internationals Shanice Beckford and Khadija Williams will be key players in the series.

The pair were part of Jamaica's 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze-medal squads and reached a historic silver in 2022.

After retiring from international netball five years ago, former captain Vangelee Williams will be making a return to the court at 33 years old after debuting for the senior team in 2011.

Also in the squad is former Vitality Rose, Rhea Dixon who switched to represent Jamaica in 2023 in a move she described as a "life-changing experience" for "my netball and my identity".

Sunshine Girls squad:

Shanice Beckford

Rhea Dixon

Simone Gordon

Gezelle Allison

Mischa Creary

Khadija Williams

Adean Thomas

Abigale Sutherland

Crystal Plummer

Zaudi Green

Kimone Shaw

Vangelee Williams

Theresa Beckford

Roxonna McLean

Paula Ann Burton

Vitality Roses squad:

Eleanor Cardwell

Sasha Glasgow

Helen Housby

Lois Pearson

Liv Tchine

Natalie Metcalf

Amy Carter

Beth Cobden

Emma Rayner

Jess Shaw

Halimat Adio

Jaz Brown

Razia Quashie

Funmi Fadoju

Francesca Williams

Vitality Netball Horizon Series schedule

The first two games of the series originally set to be played in Jamaica were cancelled due to the impact of Hurricane Melissa, so the series will now only see two games with both played in London.

Saturday December 13: Copper Box Arena, London
England vs Jamaica, 2pm

Sunday December 14: Copper Box Arena, London
England vs Jamaica, 2.15pm

Times subject to slight change due to broadcast requirements