Ryon Jones, Star Writer

Jamaica's Sunshine Girls have had a very rough year after being whitewashed in series by Australia and New Zealand and playing to two home Test series draws against England.

The world's number-four ranked team fell below their own expectations at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, as they could only manage a fourth-place finish. They followed that up with a third-place finish at the recently concluded World Fastnet Netball Championships, after finishing second at last year's inaugural tournament.

Despite finishing one place lower than they did in the Fastnet Championship, the Jamaicans scored two victories over world number-two ranked Australia. The Girls will match skills with the Australians again early next year, in a three-match Test series on January 12th, 14th and 16th.

Jamaica's netball president, Marva Bernard, anticipates a tough series as both teams are preparing for the World Championship to be staged from July 1-10, 2011.

"I know that it is going to be an uphill task for us, especially at this point in time in our fitness programme, as we are preparing for the World Champs," Bernard pointed out. "We have intensified our training programme, and what we really need to do is ensure that we give a very good account of ourselves and compete hard against the Australians.

"They too are in preparation for World Champs, but both themselves and New Zealand are such strong netball countries and have so much in terms of facilitates, infrastructure, everything over us. We have the natural, raw talent, but we need more to win tournaments," Bernard added.

The president has taken heart from the team's improved showing against the likes of the number-two ranked New Zealand and Australia in the Fastnet Championship.

The association has put in various measures to ensure that the Girls will give an improved sowing next year.

Bernard said: "We have increased the number of training days, and we have instituted some individual training programmes in preparation for World Champs."