England v Jamaica: Horizon Series shadowed by Hurricane Melissa
Jamaica series shows there’s more than the scoreline
By Emma Middleton
BBC Sport journalist
"I’ve never seen anything like it before. Hopefully I’ll never see it again."
Jamaica netballer Khadijah Williams should have been preparing for a series against England, but instead she and several teammates spent days aiding relief efforts at home after Hurricane Melissa devastated parts of the Caribbean in October.
The hurricane tore through communities, destroyed homes and infrastructure, and flooded neighbourhoods. The impact was vast: about 1.5 million people were affected — more than half of Jamaica’s population — and 28 lives were lost.
For Williams, relief came with a heavy weight. Teammate Abigale Sutherland spent days locating her grandfather after his roof was ripped off and power outages made training nearly impossible for the national side.
Jamaica’s two home legs of the four-test Horizon Series were cancelled, but they will play England twice this weekend in London’s Horizon Series, with coverage on the BBC.
For both teams, these fixtures are about more than just the result.
"I’m grateful you’re alive"
Sutherland recalled how she hadn’t heard from her grandfather for several days. When she finally connected, tears flowed.
"I cried and felt relief knowing he survived despite losing so much. It’s a small mercy amidst so much devastation."
Across the island, power outages and damaged communications made contact with loved ones extremely difficult.
"We didn’t have any phone service at all," Williams said.
The landscape of Jamaica, residents say, has been left "flattened" by the storm, and many still lack electricity and access to clean water.
Williams and fellow Sunshine Girl Shanice Beckford joined relief efforts, distributing care packages that included food, sanitary products, and nappies.
"I cried the whole time. It’s heartbreaking to see what our fellow countrymen are going through," Beckford, a two-time Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and silver medallist for Jamaica, said.
"They have nothing. But simply being able to help lift spirits by handing out these essentials is incredibly heartwarming."
Image source, Netball Jamaica
"We weren’t able to train"
Last year, Jamaica defeated England to clinch Horizon Series glory 2-1. This year’s series was slated to begin with two matches in Jamaica in early December, but both England Netball and Netball Jamaica cancelled those fixtures due to the hurricane.
The two teams will still meet for a two-match series at the Copper Box Arena in London, with Jamaica ranked third globally and England fourth.
Preparation has been markedly disrupted for Jamaica.
"We weren’t able to train for two weeks," Beckford said. "There was no electricity, no signals, and the lights were out."
Sutherland added: "Our coaches sent us some training tasks to complete at home, but not everyone could access them. We did what we could under the circumstances."
Image source, Getty Images
"This is about more than the scoreline"
England Netball has pledged £1 to Netball Jamaica’s chosen charity, World Central Kitchen, for every Horizon Series ticket sold, and fans will be able to contribute to the British Red Cross Disaster Fund.
Despite the tough conditions, England captain Francesca Williams reaffirmed her team’s commitment.
"We’re not holding back," Williams told BBC Sport. "You always aim to perform at your best and play to help the team win, which also shows respect for the opposition."
She stressed that the matches are about more than the scoreline and that Jamaica will still play with the same intensity as in normal times.
For Jamaica, the series is an opportunity to bring joy to fans back home.
Sutherland noted that people in Jamaica are tuning in, setting alarms and pulling on their black, green, and gold to watch the games on TV.
She hopes her grandfather can watch too, if power is restored to his area in time.
"He’s really excited that I’m on tour and is curious about how he’ll watch," she said. "It means a lot to him. He walks around telling everyone, ‘My granddaughter is a Sunshine Girl!’"
