ROSES AIM TO BLOOM WHEN THE HEAT IS ON

MORE than 100,000 fans are expected at the Netball World Cup this summer in the hope England will dominate once again.

Sixteen countries will fight it out in Liverpool for the sport’s biggest prize, but most eyes will be on the home side.

England beat Australia 52-51 (above) on their home soil to take Commonwealth gold last year.

The Roses’ winning penalty by Helen Housby (right), the last throw of a final watched by more than 1.5million people, saw them scoop Team of the Year and Greatest Sporting Moment at the BBC Sports Personality of the

Year awards.

And it inspired 130,000 women to start playing netball again, or to play it more often, in what is the UK’s fastest-growing team sport.

England Netball boss Joanna Adams said: “We knew it would only take one moment in the spotlight for people to be drawn back to netball, or to try it for the first time.”

Australia are the world No.1 but England are second, and strong contenders for the World Cup after thwarting the Aussies again in January 52-49 in London’s Copper Box Arena in the last match of the Quad Series, which involves four of the world’s top-five countries.

They missed out on the title on goal difference, having lost 48-45 to South Africa.

Defeating Australia was vital says Adams, because it proves England’s Commonwealth success “was not a one-off”.

“Momentum is building,” she added. “And we have total self-belief.”

It promises to be netball’s most fiercely contested World Cup ever.

“Australia are the best in the world,” Adams said. “New Zealand are rebuilding. Jamaica, South Africa and Uganda are all playing well.

“You can’t predict this one.”

England’s form has rocked Australia and New Zealand. They were untouchable before the Roses’ Commonwealth triumph having contested every Commonwealth Games final for 20 years, and one or the other lifting every World Cup, previously the World Championship, since 1963.

England were used to battling Jamaica for bronze.

Not any more.