Netball: England in with a real show

England goal keep Geva Mentor. Photo / Getty Images

England are steadily morphing from pretenders to contenders.

Their performance in Delhi, where they eclipsed Jamaica by almost 30 goals, confirmed their status as the best team in world netball behind the transtasman giants.

In the past, being the third-ranked in netball was a bit like being the second man to build an ark; it didn't mean a lot. Now the Northern Hemisphere team are becoming a genuine threat. The coaching and development work done by Kiwis Lyn Gunson and Wai Taumaunu earlier in the decade is coming to fruition with a crop of talented youngsters, and their Australian-born coach Sue Hawkins is well placed to capitalise on that work.

The Ferns remain definite favourites for this three-test series but any slip-ups will be punished.

"They are very solid and can be difficult to play against," observes former Ferns captain Adine Wilson. "They do the basics really well and it can be hard to get the ball."

Fastnet Ferns coach Robyn Broughton agrees: "England are definitely on the up. Over the last few years their speed and ball retention has improved markedly - as with their speed around the circle."

New Zealand has won 67 of the 72 matches (93 per cent) between the teams, with two draws. England's victory in Manchester in 2007 broke a 32-year winning drought and they have won two of their last six encounters.

Before this morning's game, the last clash in England in 2009 went to extra time before the Ferns eventually ran out winners 65-59; the margin in Delhi was also six goals.

The inclusion of dynamite defenders Geva Mentor and Sonia Mkoloma, after speculation they would be omitted for defying a federation dictate and signing with ANZ Championship teams for 2011, is a huge fillip for the home side.

"They are a formidable combination," says Broughton, who coached the duo in the World Seven team in 2009.

"They are instinctive together; each one can read the other and they can mix it up; they can play tight man-to-man or off the player. They are also very familiar with Irene [van Dyk] and Maria [Tutaia]."

England unearthed some promising talents in their run to the final of the recent Fastnet series, with goal defence Stacey Francis and wing defence Serena Guthrie particular stand-outs.

England's strength, unlike their football team, comes from their ability to retain possession. If they play with composure it can be difficult to get the ball; the catalyst for the two triumphs in recent years.

Recalls Wilson: "They won because we couldn't turn the ball over. We weren't picking up ball on defence.

"In this series the Ferns will have to disrupt the attacking end."

England's Achilles heel is on attack. Vice-captain Pamela Cookey is mercurial - veering from brilliant to ordinary - and Louisa Brownfield and Jo Harten are vulnerable to bouts of inconsistency.

"Their shooting end does seems a bit dicey at times," says Wilson. "The Ferns will look to rattle them there."