Sunday 14 December 2014 09:01, UK
Geva Mentor is anticipating an “overwhelming” feeling when she joins the small group of netballers to amass 100 England caps.
Mentor is expected to line-up against Wales on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, to collect her centenary cap before going on to play two Tests against Malawi.
And the 29-year-old is expecting an emotional afternoon this weekend when she takes to the court at Liverpool's Echo Arena.
The time has flown by but I guess a lot has happened in between, my first cap was back in 2001 and I’ve kept myself going all the way through. It’s amazing how experiences that helped changed me and paved the way to where I am now.
She told Sky Sports: “Hopefully it happens this Sunday, my family have come over from Holland and my mum has come up from Bournemouth. So if I can walk out – and potentially lead the team out – onto court it will be very moving for me.
“I can’t quite believe it’s my 100th cap on Sunday. The time has flown by but I guess a lot has happened in between.
"My first cap was back in 2001 and I’ve kept myself going all the way through. It’s amazing how experiences like that helped changed me and paved the way to where I am now. It’s going to be an exciting moment to take the court with a great bunch of girls in an exciting team.
“The fact that I will join a small club who’ve made their 100th appearance is very overwhelming. It’s always been a privilege to play for England and always will be.”
Highs and lows
Mentor’s achievement comes off the back of being voted The Guardian’s world's best netballer of 2014 by an independent panel and victory in the ANZ Championship with her domestic club Melbourne Vixens. Despite these incredible feats – and getting engaged to her long-term boyfriend – Mentor still can't be completely satisfied with 2014.
“It’s been a good year, one I won’t forget – it’s had its highs but also its lows with the Commonwealth Games,” she said.
“What doesn’t break you, makes you stronger and it makes you appreciate the good results. You have to ride the lows to appreciate the highs."
Mentor might be picking up her 100th cap against Wales but the game was meant to be the first in an three-Test series against World No 5 ranked side Malawi. Visa issues mean the visiting Queens are unable to play on Sunday but will hopefully arrive ahead of the scheduled second Test at the Copper Box Arena in London next Wednesday.
“It’s extremely disappointing (Malawi had to miss the first Test), as players and athletes we obviously get our head around opposition that we’ll be playing but sometimes it’s out of our hands. I know the powers that be are working hard to rectify this but it’s great we’ll get two Test matches out of three against Malawi. It’s also great that Wales have stepped in to provide that first Test.
“Hopefully Malawi will make it to our shores for the two Test matches. They’re very unorthodox and very exciting to watch, always a crowd-pleaser. I think you can expect a skilful game, some exciting plays down the court and it’s set to be two fantastic Tests. They’re very bubbly and fulfil lots of actions out on court."
England v Wales is live on Sunday at 5pm on Sky Sports 4 and the second and third Tests will both be live on Sky Sports next week.
