Familar faces in Sunshine Girlz squad for Netball World Cup

Familiar faces and experienced campaigners make up the Sunshine Girlz squad for this summer's 15th staging of the International Netball Federation World Cup to be held in Liverpool, England. The 12-member squad was released by Netball Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon. Five local-based players and seven who ply their trade overseas, have made the final cut for Jamaica's squad to the quadrennial event.

The local-based members are goal attack Shanice Beckford, centre court players Nicole Dixon, Adean Thomas and Khadijah Williams along with defender Vangelee Williams. They will be complemented by the overseas-based group of goal-shooters Jhaniele Fowler, Romelda Aiken and Shimona Nelson along with centre-court players Jodian Ward and defenders Shamera Sterling, Stacian Facey and Kadian Dehaney.

The quartet of Shimona Nelson, Adean Thomas, Jodian Ward and Shamera Sterling will all be making their first appearance at a Netball World Cup. In the meantime, Shadian Hemmings, Shannika Johnson and Rebekah Robinson have been named as reserves in the event a replacement is needed for any member of the original 12.

The Netball World Cup will be held from July 12 - 21 in Liverpool, England. The Sunshine Girls have been drawn in Group "C" alongside Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa and Fiji who they will open their campaign against on July 12. Jamaica finished 4th at the 2015 Netball World Cup behind winners Australia, runners-up New Zealand and third placed England.

The players along with the management team are tentatively set to depart on June 26 for a camp in Manchester, England from June 30 to July 7. The board of Netball Jamaica will meet next week to select a team captain.