by PHILIP SPOONER and SHERRYLYN CLARKE

AFTER A FIVE-YEAR ABSENCE, Jacqui Browne has returned to the senior national netball side at age 36. What's more stunning is that she joins her 16-year-old daughter Samantha in the team for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March. Another daughter Sabrina, 18, is a reserve.

Jacqui, a stand-out in the St Barnabas team in the 1990s, last represented Barbados in 2001. She excelled as a defender and is one of three experienced players around whom the Barbados team will be based.

"It's amazing to be named in the team and it's doubly delightful to be playing alongside my daughter," Jacqui said yesterday afternoon after NATIONSPORT informed her she was selected.

Glad to be back

"I would have liked both to make the team, but I'm glad to be back and to have at least one alongside me. I was called back to trials and I was keen on representing my country again. I will be giving my all."

Last year, as a 15-year-old, Samantha became one of the youngest players ever to make the Barbados team when she played in a tri-nation series in Jamaica. She was also part of the Under-21 team which went to Florida last year, and was a key part of the Under-16 team which won the Caribbean Under-16s in St Kitts late last year.

Jacqui brings a level of maturity to an already experienced side.

The other seniors are captain Julie Phillips (83 caps) in centre court, and goal-shooter Lydia Bishop (46 caps) in the attack.

"We had Julie as an experienced centre court player and Lydia as an experienced shooter, but when you looked at the defence there wasn't any experienced person. You need someone for the younger players to learn from," coach Anna Shepherd said.

"One of the mistakes made in West Indies cricket was when Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh were bowling, there were no young bowlers to learn from them. We need experienced players because when it comes down to the nitty gritty, they are the ones who come through for you."

Shepherd made reference to veteran player Oberon Pitterson who continues to play for Jamaica, as well as those who have been in the New Zealand squad for many years. Although Australia is rebuilding, they too have kept experienced players in the squad.

"The problem with us in Barbados is that we get rid of our players when they reach a certain age. Right now, Jacqui is playing well. She had a good season last year and should've been called up [to national training]. She is not carrying any injuries and I am looking to get a lot out of her."

Also returning are Denese Alleyne who last played at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and Wanda Agard-Belgrave (formerly Maynard-Morris) who is better known as a basketball player.

There are also familiar names like Laurel Browne and Latonya Blackman, while national basketball player Irecka Louis, who received her first cap on last year's tour to Jamaica, is also on the team.

Three other members of the Under-21 team have also made the cut. They are Janelle Sealy, Alicia Harding and Chekirah Shepherd.

The team will face St Vincent and the Grenadines tomorrow and Saturday at Garfield Sobers Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m.

Team: Laurel Browne, Lydia Bishop, Julie Phillips, Janelle Sealy, Alicia Harding, Samantha Browne, Jacqui Browne, Denese Alleyne, Chekirah Shepherd, Latonya Blackman, Wanda Agard-Belgrave, Irecka Louis; Anna Shepherd (coach), Vaneisha Cadogan (manager), Maureen Bourne (assistant coach), Marion Johnson-Hurley (international umpire), Annette Beckett (jury of appeal), Deborah Lynch-Theobalds (umpires appointment panel).

Reserves: Sabrina Browne, Andrea Jordan, Cassandra Cutting, Laverne Durant, Keisha Corbin.