Australian team for World Cup

Melbourne: Runner-up at the last two editions, Australia on Monday announced a 18-member squad for the hockey World Cup to be held in New Delhi from February 28 to March 13.

Coached by former technical consultant of the Indian hockey team Ric Charlesworth, Australia would be aiming to end a 24-year wait for a World Cup title. Charlesworth says that while the Kookaburras will enter the World Cup as one of the favourites, Australia is just one of several countries which can win.

“I believe there are at least half a dozen teams who are capable of winning. Although we will be one of the favourites, the only pressure we will have is the internal pressure we put on ourselves to play well. It will be very exciting and a new experience for a lot of them to play in India for the first time,” he said.

The squad: Des Abbott, George Bazeley, Graeme Begbie, Kiel Brown, Nathan Burgers, Matthew Butturini, Liam De Young, Luke Doerner, Jamie Dwyer, Kieran Govers, Rob Hammond, Fergus Kavanagh, Mark Knowles, Eddie Ockenden, Simon Orchard, Grant Schubert, Matthew Swann and Glenn Turner. — PTI