NINE players from last year’s silver medal-winning FAST NET team are included in an experienced senior Sunshine Girls squad for the 2010 World Netball Series from November 19-21 at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

Only three new players in defender Althea Byfield and shooters Jodi-Ann Ffrench-Kentish and Jhanielle Fowler have been included in the 12-member squad.

The team will be captained by Simone Forbes, with the rest of the side reading Nadine Bryan, Vanessa Walker, Paula Thompson, Sasher-Gaye Henry, Tracy-Ann Robinson, Nicole Aiken-Pinnock, Malysha Kelly and Sasha-Gay Lynch.

National coach Connie Francis told the Observer that Ffrench, who is returning to the senior national squad after a four-year absence, was named for her expertise in range shooting, which comes in handy in the shorter, quicker version of the game.

“Selectors thought she was the best person at this time,” Francis said.

Ffrench, who is a working student, told the Observer the time was ripe for her return.

“I just wanted to devote some time to assist my country and devote some time to get back into the game. We’re now ranked fourth and we were ranked third for a while, so I feel I can make some contribution to get us back there, or go even better,” she added.

Ffrench is from a family of netballers which has represented Jamaica, with sisters Nadine and Sade having played at the Senior and Under-16 levels, respectively.

The lanky Fowler comes in the absence of tall goalshooter Romelda Aiken, who will be unavailable as she prepares to return to Australia for the ANZ Championships pre-season.

The start of the ANZ tournament has been moved up to much earlier than its usual April start because of the 2011 World Netball Championships (WNC), which will take place in Singapore next July.

The World Series will feature the top six teams in the world, with Jamaica set to open against Malawi on November 19.

They will also face South Africa, Australia, England and New Zealand, with the final placings to be decided after play on Sunday, November 21.

“FAST NET is about anybody’s game, especially when it comes to tactical play and how you use the power play and what happens on court,” Francis told the Observer.

The Jamaicans are still smarting from their fourth-placed finish at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, where they were beaten by England in the bronze medal match.

Francis said they haven’t had much time to train in the different format since their return, “… which is why I’m glad we still have those players… who were at the last (series), so they do have some experience”.

She added that the team were trying to move beyond the disappointment in Asia.

“We’re trying to get past that,” she said. “We know that we did not play up to our usual standard, but we’re trying to get past that and looking forward to the FAST NET.

“There are a lot of changes and we’ve already seen the changes happening in our squad and we know that in the future we’ll be better prepared,” Francis said.

The Jamaican contingent will also include assistant coach Annette Daley, manager Andrea Anthony, primary care-giver Praimanand Singh and physiotherapist Maureen Spence-Campbell.

Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) president Marva Bernard will also leave with the team from Montego Bay on Sunday, November 14.

Meanwhile, local umpire Dave Brown will officiate in the series, while Yvette Smith has been elected to the Umpires Appointments Panel.

New Zealand won the inaugural World Series in Manchester, England last year by beating the Sunshine Girls in the final.