“The development department have done some excellent work,” said Mayes, who has coached the national team since November 2011. “The increase in participation has been phenomenal.
“Things like Talent ID [a selection system that identifies and develops top-performing athletes] are getting more people into the sport and ensures more people are training under great conditions. It means we’ve got quality coming through.
“All credit to our national academy programme too. We’ve done some fantastic work with our under-21s so in terms of the calibre of athletes coming through it’s better than ever.”
Pamela Cookey, who captained England in the series whitewash and earned her 80th cap in the process, has witnessed the progress the squad has made.
“This is the first time everything has gelled – the coaching staff, the players, everything is in place,” said Cookey who made her debut in 2004.
“The Sport England money will help us get even more people into the sport and then, once you lift their ability and standard, it gives the coaching staff a greater pool of talent to pick from.
“In the end, we’ll become like the Australians and three or four people vying for one position. It’s a process.”
While the Australian players compete in a paid, full-time professional league, the England players all have second jobs or are in education. They do not get money for playing in the domestic league, while England Netball simply cover expenses.
Women’s football in England has benefited from a more professional structure in recent years with the birth of the Women’s Super League., external Mayes hopes for a similar approach in netball.
“It’s a challenge that England players aren’t paid a wage and have to hold down full-time or part-time jobs or education,” she said.
“I hope in the next five years there will be a semi-professional league. The England players get great support from Sport England.
“But the players that play in just the domestic league, who are knocking on the door for England, need their standard raised to improve our squad’s breadth and depth.”