THE 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England and just around the corner. To celebrate, we are previewing each of the competing netball nations and predicting how they might fare in the tournament.

Today it is Jamaica, who won bronze last time around at the Commonwealth Games.

After winning bronze at the last two consecutive games, Jamaica will be looking to take that next step and win a different coloured medal this time around.

Taking a look at their pool, there is a good chance they can make it to at least the semi final stage again, but the question will be if they can make it even further.

Firstly, three of the five countries in their pool were in the same pool as the Jamaicans back in 2018, with the Jamaicans beating two of them, with the only one they were not able to beat being Australia.

In addition to this, they comfortably beat the Scots at the World Cup the following year, so there is recent history there too.

Looking at the squad they are sending to these games, it is not only experienced but full of players that are coming off stellar Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) seasons.

Their entire defensive quartet played in the SSN this year, and although Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Jodi-Ann Ward’s seasons did not set the world on fire, they still both had decent and impressive.

However, Adelaide pair Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson are a different story.

They both had a stellar seasons, and the partnership they had this season quite frankly kept the Thunderbirds in games on a number of occasions. If they are able to continue that form and partnership strength together in Birmingham, they are going to cause a number of headaches for opposition attacks, especially with Sterling’s ability in the air.

The potential head aches do not end there for opposition.

Moving up the other end of the court, and two of the inform shooters of the SSN – Jhaniele Fowler and Shimona Nelson – will also be looking to continue their SSN form into the games. The other teams in Group A will have definitely had to do their homework on Fowler, because she proved near impossible to quell during the SSN season.  

One experienced face that will be missing this time though is Romelda Aiken, who is still on maternity leave preparing to welcome her first child.

So, with all those in form players will the Jamaicans be able to take the next step and improve their medal colour? Not too long until we all find out.

SQUAD:

Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Shamera Sterling, Jodi-Ann Ward, Latanya Wilson, Nicole Dixon-Rochester, Shadian Hemmings, Adean Thomas, Khadijah Williams, Shanice Beckford, Jhaniele Fowler, Shimona Nelson, Rebekah Robinson

SCHEDULE:

Friday 29 July – Wales
Saturday 30 July – South Africa
Monday 1 August – Barbados
Tuesday 2 August – Scotland
Thursday 4 August – Australia