Netball: Jamaica, Netball NZ scramble to make up numbers amid Taini Jamison Trophy fiasco

Jamaica are still scrambling to pull together the number of players required for this week's Taini Jamison Trophy test series against the Silver Ferns.

After the Hamilton leg of the series was cancelled, due to visa delays, only seven players arrived for the rejigged two-test series at Auckland, but it appears the numbers still don't quite add up, as the tab for Netball New Zealand continues to grow.

Confusion seems to follow the Jamaicans around, but parking issues at their training venue are the least of their problems.

"My understanding of the world netball rules is that you need to have 10 players, says Netball NZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie.

A few were missing from the team's photoshoot. Only seven players have arrived in the country, but 38-year-old veteran Carla Borrego has been called in from Australia, along with another yet-to-be named player from across the ditch.

"I know Netball New Zealand, Netball Jamaica are working on possibly a couple of other players coming in," said Jamaica coach Connie Francis.

But Wyllie is still not convinced.

"Oh look, I think you're going to have to ask Jamaica about who is on their bench," she said.

Francis admitted: "I'm not sure where the other player is coming from, no, but I know there is another one they're talking to."

Jamaica's passport and visa delays have forced Netball NZ to cancel, postpone and shorten the series - not a cheap exercise.

"There is a financial impact and it's not pretty," said Wyllie. "We had to go from three tests at different venues to two test matches and at some point, you can't recoup deposits that have been paid."

Shannon Saunders in action for Silver Ferns against Jamaica
Shannon Saunders in action for Silver Ferns against Jamaica. Photo credit: Photosport

But that court-time is priceless for the Silver Ferns, with all eyes firmly on the prize - next year's World Cup, where New Zealand will defend their crown.

"They'll be coming out all guns blazing from what happened at the Commonwealth Games, but you know setback is only for a setup," said Francis.

New Zealand hope they're setting themselves up for redemption, after losing to eventual silver medallists Jamaica in the Birmingham semi-finals, and winning back the Taini Jamison Trophy... if the series finally does go ahead.