The 14th World Cup is just 16 days away. Last week netball writer Robert van Royen previewed South Africa as the first of five potentially tough opponents the Silver Ferns might face in Sydney. In part two of our countdown series, it is time to look at Jamaica.
Cup record
Best finish 3rd
Played 116
Won 78
Lost 35
Drawn 3
History
Jamaica is one of just four teams (New Zealand, Australia and England) to have competed in each of the past 13 Netball World Cups.
Otherwise known as the ''Sunshine Girls'', Jamaica finished fifth in the inaugural tournament in England in 1963.
That was followed by a sixth-place finish in Perth four years later, Jamaica's worst finish in the tournament's history.
After a series of fourth and fifth places in the 1970s and '80s, Jamaica finally broke through and won bronze in Sydney in 1991.
The flamboyant Jamaicans matched that in 2003 (Kingston) and 2007 (Auckland), but Jamaica is yet to play in the championship decider.
It has hosted the World Cup twice in Kingston, in 1971 and 2003.
Players to watch
It almost seems unfair for one team to boast shooting aces Romelda Aiken and Jhaniele Fowler-Reid.
Aiken (Queensland Firebirds) was named most valuable player in the Australian conference in this year's ANZ Championship, while Fowler Reid (Southern Steel) won the New Zealand conference MVP award.
The pair were the top two shooters during the season, in which Aiken landed 648 of her 779 attempts (83.2%) and Fowler-Reid connected on 607 of her 697 shots (87.1%).
However, just how coach Minneth Reynolds utilises them is not yet known.
Shanice Beckford is Jamaica's true goal attack, but do not be surprised if Aiken and Fowler-Reid play together.
Jamaica has played the two goal shoots together in the past, most notably against Australia in the semifinals four years ago, with limited success.
When the two have played together, 1.96m Aiken has played at goal attack, leaving 1.98m Fowler-Reid to don the goal shoot bib.
Aiken, who has become more mobile in the past couple of years, recently expressed a desire for her and Fowler-Reid to play together.
If Jamaica can find a way for the pair to shine together, look out.
World Cup prospects
Jamaica qualified for the World Cup as the fourth-ranked team in the world, pitted against England, Scotland and Samoa in pool B.
Jamaica should not have any problem dispatching Samoa on the opening day of the tournament.
The same thing can be said for Scotland on day four, but it is the much anticipated match against England on day two that will probably decide the pool winner.
While the top two teams from each of the four pools advance to the top eight, the winner of pool B would probably avoid playing Australia in the next round, which is split into two pools of four.
Each team plays the other three sides in the pool. If Jamaica wins pool B and New Zealand finishes second in pool A, the sides will meet in the first match of the second round.
With many question marks over the Silver Ferns heading into the tournament, perhaps this is Jamaica's chance to finally win a semifinal and finally play for gold.
Jamaica
World Cup team
Nicole Aiken-Pinnock (captain), Paula Thompson (vice-captain), Romelda Aiken, Shanice Beckford, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Nicole Dixon, Stacian Facey, Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, Anna Kay Griffiths, Sasher-Gaye Henry, Khadijah Williams,Vangelee Williams.
Coach: Minneth Reynolds
