Jamaica series about 'more than scoreline' after hurricane

"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 some of the other players found themselves helping relief efforts in their homeland after the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in October.

The hurricane swept across the Caribbean, destroying homes and infrastructure and flooding neighbourhoods. About 1.5 million people have been affected - more than half the country's population - and 28 people were killed.

It took Williams' team-mate Abigale Sutherland several days to track down her grandfather, whose roof had been blown off his house, and the lack of power also meant training together as a national side became impossible.

Jamaica's two home legs of the four-test series were cancelled but they will play England twice this weekend in the Horizon Series, which you can watch on the BBC.

For both teams, these fixtures are about a lot more than the result.

"I didn't hear from my grandfather for several days. When I heard from him, I started crying, and was like 'thank God'," Sutherland told BBC Sport.

"I was listening to the radio station hoping not to hear his name. It was a sense of relief knowing that he lost so much, but that he's still here."

Many parts of the island lost power and electricity, making any sort of communication difficult.

"We didn't have any phone service at all," Williams said.

"It was challenging and scary, you didn't know whether people were OK."

Residents of Jamaica have described the landscape as being "flattened", and many still do not have electricity or access to water.

Williams and fellow 'Sunshine Girl' Shanice Beckford were among those who joined the relief efforts, handing out care packages that included food, sanitary products and nappies.

"I literally cried the entire time. It is heart-breaking to see what our fellow countrymen are going through," said Beckford, who has won two Commonwealth Games bronze medals and a silver for Jamaica.

"They don't have anything. But the fact that we can help put a smile on their faces and give out those packages, is really heartwarming."

Last year Jamaica claimed a convincing victory against England to win the inaugural Horizon Series 2-1.

This year's series had been set to start with the opening two matches in Jamaica in early December but England Netball and Netball Jamaica cancelled them, external after the hurricane.

Jamaica, third in the world rankings, will still face England, ranked fourth, in a two-match series at the Copper Box Arena, London.

But this year, their preparations have been very different.

"We weren't able to train for two weeks," Beckford said. "We weren't on court because of the impact, no lights, no electricity, no signal."

Sutherland added: "So our coaches sent a few things we had to do on our own while we were home. Some weren't able to do that, but we did what we could."

England Netball will donate £1 to Netball Jamaica's chosen charity, World Central Kitchen, from every Horizon Series ticket sold - and has also announced fans will be able to contribute to the British Red Cross' Disaster Fund.

The fixtures may be taking place under challenging circumstances, but England captain Francesca Williams said her team's approach remains unchanged.

"We're definitely not holding back," Williams told BBC Sport.

"You are always going to put out your best performance possible and do what you can to help the team win. That's showing the other team the most respect, playing to your best ability."

While these matches represent "more than the scoreline", the Jamaican side will be "coming just as hard" as they would if it were in different circumstances, Williams said.

But for them, it is also a chance to bring joy to people back home.

Sutherland said people in Jamaica "are setting their alarm, and putting on their black, green and gold" to watch the games on television.

She hopes the TV audience include her grandfather if the power is restored to his area in time.

"He's really excited that I'm on tour, asking how he will watch the game," she said.

"It means a lot to him. He walks around telling everybody: 'My granddaughter is a Sunshine Girl!'"