England coach Jess Thirlby has announced her 12-player squad to head to the Netball World Cup starting in July.
Just hours after former Rose Tamsin Greenway called on England to be “bold and brave” with their squad selection, the Roses instead opted for tried and trusted to head to Cape Town to take on the world’s best.
West Coast Fever goal attack Sasha Glasgow was overlooked, despite her outstanding Super Netball form and eligibility to represent England due to her grandparents’ heritage.
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Young goaler Sophie Drakeford-Lewis, who was used in both recent losing series against Australia and the Quad Series, also missed out, along with former Adelaide Thunderbird Elle McDonald.
Veteran Jo Harten was already ruled out of the series, after announcing her international retirement last month.
Former Diamond Chelsea Pitman did make the cut, along with three current Super Netball players – Eleanor Cardwell, Helen Housby and Geva Mentor.
For Mentor, this will be her record sixth World Cup, alongside fellow veteran Jade Clarke.
“This squad strikes a great balance of experience whilst also introducing an exciting point of difference with some of our incredible young talent who are deserving of their place in the squad amongst some of the sport’s longest serving players,” Thirlby said of her selections.
“It provides the versatility needed to combat what we know to be the key areas of focus for us, as uncovered during recent international match ups. Importantly, this team along with our three travelling reserves, speaks to what we believe is one of our greatest strengths – our tactical diversity – and gives us the best chance to counteract those styles of our biggest rivals.
“The global game has moved on since the last World Cup and now more than ever, the margins between the top nations are at their narrowest. Tournament netball and its conditions are like no other league in the world and it will be important to call upon those varying styles of play within the team in order to help move us closer to breaking into a World Cup final for the first time.
“The team are highly ambitious, hugely supportive of each other and I trust together we will do whatever we can to perform at our best in Cape Town.”
England haven’t had much international success since their shock 2018 Commonwealth Games gold.
They finished fourth at the most recent Games in Birmingham last year, and were whitewashed in the three-Test England Series against Australia last October.
The Roses were also winless in the Quad Series round matches in January, before beating South Africa in the 3 v 4 playoff.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Imogen Allison
Eleanor Cardwell
Jade Clarke
Funmi Fadoju
Layla Guscoth
Helen Housby
Laura Malcolm
Geva Mentor
Natalie Metcalf
Chelsea Pitman
Olivia Tchine
Fran Williams
RESERVES
Halimat Adio
Amy Carter
Sophie Drakeford-Lewis
