As it ramps up preparations for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England, Netball Jamaica has named a strong 16-member squad for a Tri-nation series with South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago set to take place from October 9-23 at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.

Jamaica will open the series when they take on Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday, October 9 while South Africa will face Trinidad and Tobago on October 11.

Jamaica face T&T again on October 13 with the Trinidadians facing the South Africans a second time on October 16. Jamaica will then face South Africa on October 18, 21 and 23.

The Jamaicans will be without the services of veteran Romelda Aiken but will have a powerful squad of shooters led by the Suncorp Super League’s top scorer in Jhanielle Fowler as well as Rebekah Robinson, newcomer Amanda Pinkney, Gezelle Allison and Shanice Beckford.

Regarding Aiken’s absence, NJ President Tricia Robinson explained that getting the veteran shooter to Jamaica for the series would have been a logistical nightmare given the required period of quarantine because of the pandemic.

She said the player is expected to be available for the England series set for December. The series that was set for January this year was postponed because Jamaica had closed it borders to incoming flights because of the pandemic.

At centre court, Jamaica will have the likes of veterans Nicole Dixon, Khadijah Williams and Adean Thomas as well as Shadian Hemmings and Shannika Johnson.

The experienced defensive unit includes Shamera Sterling, Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Jodi-Ann Ward, as well as Malysha Kelly, who is returning from a long lay-off through injury, Latanya Wilson and debutant Paula Ann Burton.

Robinson said she expects the new players Pinkney and Burton to benefit from the experience of playing with the ‘big guns’.

Meanwhile, New Horizons Pharmacy was announced as the official sponsor of the medical kit for the national programme.

As the players continue their preparations they are being assisted with transportation by the Jamaica Olympic Association and Budget Car Rentals. Netball Jamaica was hit hard last month when thieves stole the two buses that were used to transport players.