Australia: Batch extends alternatives in Kookaburras’ Europe squad

A 20-player Kookaburras squad has been chosen for FIH Professional League matches towards the Netherlands and Belgium to be performed in Europe from 8-20 June.

Kookaburras Head Coach Colin Batch has made 9 adjustments to the squad that competed within the FIH Professional League ‘mini match’ in Christchurch on the finish of April.

General impressed by what he noticed from the group who performed in Christchurch, Batch is keen to see what degree different gamers are at through the European tour as he appears to determine his finest crew for the all-important Oceania Cup, which doubles as Olympic qualifiers, in August.

Included within the squad for Europe are 5 established Kookaburras who’ve been based mostly overseas over the previous two months.

Tim Model, Tom Craig, Matt Dawson, Blake Govers and Jeremy Hayward have been enjoying membership hockey in Europe and can be a part of up with the Kookaburras travelling celebration for the FIH Professional League collection.

The quintet, who’ve a mixed 715 worldwide matches of expertise between them, final performed for the Kookaburras within the Professional League ‘mini match’ in Hobart in late February.

The opposite notable inclusions are goalkeeper Ash Thomas, who will make his Kookaburras debut, Canberra based mostly Davis Atkin who performed three Professional League matches in India earlier this yr, plus Jacob Anderson and Dylan Martin.

One notable absentee is star midfielder Aran Zalewski. The 30 yr outdated 240 recreation veteran will stay in Perth after not too long ago turning into a father for the primary time.

“One of many issues we needed within the Christchurch Professional League collection was a consolidation of our means of play and enchancment…and we noticed that within the group who performed there, so I used to be happy with that aspect of it,” stated Batch.
 
“This might be a construct up for the Oceania Cup to verify we now have the most effective 18 gamers for these video games. Proper at this minute I’m undecided who that’s, which is why we now have prolonged alternatives for gamers to seek out out precisely the place everyone seems to be at.”
 
“I need to discover out precisely the place the 5 gamers who’ve been enjoying in Europe are at and have a great evaluation of them.

“Then we are able to evaluate them with those who’ve been enjoying within the final couple of Professional League mini tournaments, so this has been a great and fascinating alternative for us to increase the depth of the squad.”
 
“There are some disenchanted guys who performed properly in New Zealand however aren’t within the European tour, however they’re actually in rivalry for future part.”
 
“Aran (Zalewski) will attend to residence duties for some time serving to to care for his new child daughter Margot. It’s a pleasant factor for him to do and I totally help it.”
 
“Ash (Thomas) has been across the group for a while with out getting a chance. He performed within the Junior World Cup in 2016, so we’re giving him a chance now and that comes off the again of him performing properly within the Hockey One League final yr. This chance for him is according to us opening up choice presently.”

Batch will get no higher gauge at the place his gamers and recreation fashion are at than by taking up the world primary (Netherlands) and two (Belgium) ranked males’s hockey nations.

“We need to proceed refining our means of play. Each time you play towards European groups they problem you in several methods so we get to study extra about our gamers that means,” stated Batch.
 
“Initially, we have to see if our means of play stacks up towards high quality European opposition.”
 
“It’s all the time a great problem enjoying the Netherlands and Belgium, particularly on their residence patch.”

Along with the Professional League matches, the tour will embrace a match towards Eire on 7 June earlier than concluding with two internationals towards France in Paris on 23 and 25 June, a yr out from the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Kookaburras squad is scheduled to depart for Europe on 2 June.

The Kookaburras’ FIH Professional League matches might be broadcast LIVE on FOX Sports activities and Kayo.

Kookaburras squad – FIH Professional League 2022-23 Season Europe Collection

FIH Professional League 2022-23 Season Eindhoven and Antwerp – Hockeyroos & Kookaburras Match Schedule
8 June 2023 – Netherlands v Hockeyroos (Ladies) 7:40pm native time
9 June 2023 – Netherlands v Kookaburras (Males) 7:40pm native time
11 June 2023 – Netherlands v Hockeyroos (Ladies) 3:10pm native time
12 June 2023 – Netherlands v Kookaburras (Males) 7:40pm native time
16 June 2023 – Belgium v Hockeyroos (Ladies) 8:40pm native time
17 June 2023 – Belgium v Kookaburras (Males) 4:40pm native time
19 June 2023 – Belgium v Hockeyroos (Ladies) 8:40pm native time
20 June 2023 – Belgium v Kookaburras (Males) 8:40pm native time

Full FIH Professional League 2022-23 Match Schedule