19 May 2014

Experienced Black Sticks squad named

4:39 pm on 19 May 2014

The New Zealand men's hockey coach Colin Batch has named an experienced squad to compete at the World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands next month.

It's an unchanged line-up from the team which won five of six games at the recent Champions Challenge in Malaysia.

The team is led by experienced veterans Dean Couzins and Phil Burrows, who have both played more than 300 Tests for New Zealand.

Nine other players have eclipsed 100 Tests, along with striker Simon Child who recently played his 200th game at just 26 years of age.

There are eight new players to the team since the 2012 London Olympics, including the Southern defender Kane Russell and Auckland striker Jared Panchia, who both played at the Junior World Cup in December last year.

Midfielder Shay Neal has recovered from a long-term hip injury and will travel with the team as 19th man.

At the World Cup the Black Sticks are joined in Pool B by hosts Netherlands, Germany, Korea, Argentina and South Africa.

Squad: Nick Haig, Andy Hayward, Simon Child, Dean Couzins, Blair Hilton, Marcus Child, Jared Panchia, Hamish McGregor, Phil Burrows, Alex Shaw, Devon Manchester, Kane Russell, Blair Tarrant, Arun Panchia, Shea McAleese, Stephen Jenness, Hugo Inglis, Steve Edwards