JAMAICA’S ace goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler says it is very important for the Sunshine Girls to use the three-match Vitality Netball International Series against hosts England as key preparation for finding the best possible combinations ahead of this year’s Netball World Cup.

The World Cup is scheduled to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from July 28 to August 6.

The first contest in the series versus England is set for January 11 at AO Arena in Manchester, while the second and third matches are slated for Copperbox Arena in London on January 14 and 15.

“It is a very good feeling as everyone is very excited for this series. I mean, the younger ones are very excited to go away to play in a series like this. It is very important to start off the series with a win and also end it with a win. However, we know that we are going to have to work on a lot of things that we need to get right for the World Cup and so these games are going to help us prepare,” Folwer told the Jamaica Observer.

The Sunshine Girls are ranked fourth in the world while England are rated third, behind number one team Australia and world champions New Zealand.

The last time Jamaica and England met in a series was in 2021, when the Vitality Roses came out with a 2-1 victory in three matches. It was England’s first series win against the Sunshine Girls in eight years, back to 2013.

Fowler said that her team has been preparing well for the series and that she is expecting nothing less than a series win from the Sunshine Girls.

“They [England] have fielded a very strong team for the series and we know it’s going to be very competitive.” We are expecting a lot from them, just as they are expecting a lot from us. I think our team is ready to take on the players that England have selected, both collectively and individually.

“I think we’re in a very good position to go on and win the series as well as work on things like combinations to see how best we can have a fitted team come World Cup,” she said.

Commenting on playing conditions, Fowler said: “We have been in countries like this where the conditions are very cold, and so it is just to prepare our minds that we ensure we do what we need to do to be ready for the games.” Jamaica squad – Jhaniele Flowler (captain), Shanice Beckford (vice-captain), Shimona Nelson, Rebekah Robinson, Khadijah Williams, Nicole Dixon-Rochester, Jodi-Ann Ward, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Malysha Kelly, Tafiya Hunter, Crystal Plummer, Abigale Sutherland, Theresa Beckford, and Roxonna McLean.