Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

FOLLOWING THEIR tri-nation series victory over South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago last week at the National Indoor Sports Complex, the Jamaica Sunshine Girls will do battle against number three-ranked England in a three-Test series in February in London.

The first match will be played on the 23rd, the second on the 25th and the third set for two days later. The venue for the matches is yet to be announced.

The Jamaicans defeated number nine-ranked South Africa 61-47 in the final of the tri-nation series last week. The hosts were unbeaten throughout the series.

The Jamaicans, who are ranked fourth in the world, defeated England 53-52 to capture the bronze medal at last year's World Netball Championships in Auckland, New Zealand. However, based on a revised rankings system, they were rated fourth in the world on the basis of an earlier 3-0 loss to England in a practice series.

Annette Daley, assistant coach of the Sunshine Girls, said the players were looking forward to taking on England.

"This is a very important series for us because they (England) are ranked above us and once we can beat them, then we should get closer to them or even above them in the rankings," said Daley yesterday.

Daley said, despite the absence of a number of senior players, who played against the English in last year's WNC and also the 3-0 series defeat to England, she was confident the younger players would give a good account of themselves."