Elaine Davis - Junior Dowie photo

By Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Elaine Davis, captain of the national netball team, said despite the team's poor showing against Australia and New Zealand in their recently concluded two-week tour, she is still very confident they can bounce back to win this year's World Championships, which will be held in New Zealand in November.

"This is not only the belief of me alone but also the entire team," said Davis in a telephone interview with Star Sports yesterday.

"Why would we be training? Why would the coach be doing this if she didn't think that we could win (World Champion-ships)? No matter what the losses on the road leading up to the competition, we all believe that we can win this. I think that we have time to look at each individual's weaknesses and strengths. We have time to work on it because the championships is three months away (and) I think we are going to do well."

The Jamaicans, who are ranked number three in the world, lost both series 2-0. They also suffered one of their worst defeats in a decade when they were thrashed 80-36 by world champions New Zealand.

"This is the first time this team is going up against a team like New Zealand and Australia in terms of the combination and support," Davis said.

"I think that this tour was used as a measurement because of the different changes to the team. I think that this team was a young team, so we knew the tour would be tough because of the persons that we had," added Davis, a veteran of over 80 matches.

The Jamaicans will now turn their attention to a three-Test home series against England in September, which is their last series before the start of the World Championships.