Netball: Jamaica trip offers look at whole team

Adine Wilson is among New Zealand's known quantities for the Commonwealth Games. Picture / Richard Robinson

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken is hoping the tri-series in Jamaica will confirm she has the mix right for next year's Commonwealth Games.

The Silver Ferns leave on Monday for Kingston, where they will face Jamaica and Barbados.

Following their record 61-36 win over Australia last weekend, Aitken said the focus for the Silver Ferns in Jamaica was to develop the whole team of 12.

"You'll see lots of changes throughout the three games," she said. "Looking ahead to the Commonwealth Games, it is important that we can ensure we are confident in all our players.

"Especially, heaven help us, if an injury does happen, we have got to have players that are ready to step into those No 1 slots."

Aitken will announce her team for the Melbourne Games about the end of November.

The seven who started against Australia - Irene van Dyk, Jodi Te Huna, Adine Wilson, Temepara George, Laura Langman, Anna Scarlett and Vilimaina Davu - are probably already locked in, but Aitken will be looking for strong performances from the others in Jamaica.

The "recalls", Leana de Bruin, Anna Rowberry and Belinda Colling, will need to show they are more worthy of a trip to Melbourne than, say, Sheryl Scanlan, Joline Henry, Lesley Rumball and Anna Senio.

Jamaica were third in the last world champs, but have since disappeared under the radar.

Known for their aerial play and bustling defence, the side features six players from the Jamaican under-21 side, including 1.96m shooter Romelda Aitken, who finished fourth in the world youth cup

"Certainly, watching the Jamaicans [in the world youth cup] when they were on their A game they were outstanding, but they struggled a bit to put together a B game when the A game was shut down," said Aitken.

"The experience they [the open team] have got - Nadine Bryant in the midcourt, Oberon Pitterson in defence and Elaine Davis under the hoop - will make a bit of difference to that ability to produce something alternative."

The Silver Ferns last played Barbados in 2002, when they scored a 3-0 series win.

"It is a good test for our players to adapt to other styles," Aitken said.

"It's also good to play other countries who are not necessarily in the top two or three in the world."

For Aitken, her assistant Leigh Gibbs and nine of the players, the trip to Jamaica means returning to the place of their epic world championship win in July 2003.

"I guess if anything it makes us realise how we have all moved on from there," Aitken said.

"We can't go getting nostalgic because that is when you become a bit vulnerable."

TRI-SERIES

* November 12 Jamaica v Barbados

* November 13 New Zealand v Jamaica (live on TV One 10.15am Monday)

* November 14 New Zealand v Barbados

* November 15 Final (TV One 11.30am Wednesday)