Lanco International Super Series: Kookaburras go for attack

Michelle Payne October 12, 2011 0

Lanco International Super Series: Kookaburras go for attack

SYDNEY: The Kookaburras will be looking to take advantage of the new rules and scoring opportunities at the Lanco International Super Series, today selecting a 23 man squad with plenty of fire power, a Hockey Australia Media Release said Wednesday.

With new rules for the tournament including bigger goals, fewer players on the pitch and one player having to remain in the forward half at all times, the Kookaburras have selected a squad filled with attacking players.

This includes the return of striker Des Abbott, who will be returning to the squad for the first time after suffering a knee injury which has seen him sidelined for the majority of the year.

Abbott’s return to the squad from injury will be a welcomed addition to the team and signals the team beginning to regain the services of several injured stars, with Jamie Dwyer and Mark Knowles also returning from injury last week at the Oceania Cup.

Two players, Tristan Clemons and Tristan White, have been selected to represent Australia for the first time at the tournament. The task could be particularly daunting for Clemons, a WA based goalkeeper who will be given the job of depending goals one metre winder than usual at the tournament.

The 23 player squad will be reduced to 18 players on Sunday 16 October ahead of the tournament which begins at the Perth Hockey Stadium from October 20-23.

The tournament will see the Kookaburras take on India, New Zealand and Pakistan while the Hockeyroos will face India and Malaysia.

Kookaburras 23 man Lanco International Super Series squad:

Des Abbott (NT), George Bazeley (VIC), Kiel Brown (WA), Ian Burcher (WA), Matthew Butturini (NSW), Chris Ciriello (VIC), Tristan Clemons (WA), Liam De Young (WA), Tim Deavin (TAS), Jamie Dwyer (QLD), Russell Ford (VIC), Matt Gohdes (QLD), Kieran Govers (NSW), Fergus Kavanagh (WA), Mark Knowles (QLD), Mark Paterson (NSW), Eddie Ockenden (TAS), Simon Orchard (NSW), Glenn Simpson (VIC), Matthew Swann (QLD), Glenn Turner (ACT), Tristan White (NSW), Jason Wilson (QLD)