The 12-member Barbados Gems left the island on Thursday to compete in the Americas Federation of Netball Association (AFNA) Qualifiers for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.
The core of the unit remains unchanged from that which played at the Commonwealth Games.
However, former captain Damisha Croney and Teresa Howell both make a return to the side, while Tamara Trotman is the lone uncapped player.
However, former captain Damisha Croney and Teresa Howell both make a return to the side, while Tamara Trotman is the lone uncapped player. They replace Vanessa Bobb, Zakiya Kirton and Stephian Shepherd.
The full team is co-captains Latonia Blackman and Shonette Azore-Bruce, Damisha Croney, Teresa Howell, Tamara Trotman, Shonica Wharton, Sabreena Smith, Faye Agard, Akeena Stoute, Samantha Browne, Brianna Holder and Tonisha Rock-Yaw. The Gems are coached by Margaret Cutting and Adrian Craigwell, and the manager is Lynette Holder.
Fitness was a bug-bear for the Commonwealth team, and it will be even more important as they will be required to play twice on some days in the week-long tournament.
Hosts Jamaica do not have to qualify by virtue of their world ranking, so two spots are up for grabs. The other participating countries are Cayman Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and St Lucia. (SAT)