Kookaburras teams announced for Hobart and Rourkela Pro League
Published Tue 21 Feb 2023
Kookaburras Head Coach Colin Batch will use the team’s forthcoming two FIH Pro League series in Hobart and India to ‘open up selection’ by providing opportunities for players to stake their claims in the Kookaburras line up.
Batch announced the two 20-player Kookaburras teams for the FIH Pro League ‘mini tournament’ against Argentina and Spain in Hobart (28 Feb - 5 March) followed by matches against World Champions Germany and India in Rourkela (10-15 March).
New Kookaburras squad addition, Queenslander Jayden Atkinson, is set to debut in Hobart, while Batch has named uncapped National Development Squad quartet Davis Atkin, Hayden Beltz, Anand Gupte (pictured above) and Ben Staines for the Pro League series in India.
Coming into their opening matches of the FIH Pro League 2022-23 Season off the back of a disappointing fourth placed finish at the 2023 World Cup last month, Batch is eager to see which players impress.
“We can’t do anything about the result at the World Cup and it’s going to take some time to fully assess it all, so we can only learn from it,” said Batch.
“We need to move forward…this is a new chapter for us as we prepare for the Oceania Cup (Olympic qualifiers) with the longer-term view towards Paris 2024.
“The most immediate focus is preparing well in Hobart and guys putting their hand up for future selection.
“We played Argentina and Spain at the World Cup and they caused us some challenges, we lost to Germany in the semi finals and India are always a tough proposition at home, so it’s a great opportunity.
“There are some players who just missed selection for the World Cup who will be keen to perform and cement a more permanent place in the Kookaburras, so that’s what these games are about.
“We have some injuries and unavailability so that has given others an opportunity. As I said to the players after the World Cup, moving forward there will be changes and selection will be open.”
“The Hockey One League is the primary selection tool we’ve had over the past couple of years, so we’re keen to give some others an opportunity at international level to see what they’re capable of.”
Tim Brand, Tom Craig, Blake Govers, Matt Dawson and Jeremy Hayward will head to Europe to play club hockey after the FIH Pro League series in Hobart.
The Kookaburras have not competed in the FIH Pro League since June 2021. The team will arrive in Hobart on Saturday ahead of their opening match against Argentina on Tuesday 28 February.
The series will be played as double headers alongside the women’s Pro League matches involving the Hockeyroos, Argentina and the USA.
The FIH Pro League Hobart ‘mini tournament’ is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania.
More information on the tournament can be found on the FIH Pro League website.
FIH Pro League 2022-23 Season - Hobart Match Schedule
Tuesday 28 February - Hockeyroos v Argentina (Women) 5:00pm AEDT
Tuesday 28 February - Kookaburras v Argentina (Men) 7:00pm AEDT
Wednesday 1 March - Hockeyroos v USA (Women) 5:00pm AEDT
Wednesday 1 March - Kookaburras v Spain (Men) 7:00pm AEDT
Thursday 2 March - Argentina v USA (Women) 5:00pm AEDT
Thursday 2 March - Argentina v Spain (Men) 7:00pm AEDT
Friday 3 March - Kookaburras v Argentina (Men) 5:00pm AEDT
Friday 3 March - Hockeyroos v Argentina (Women) 7:00pm AEDT
Saturday 4 March - Kookaburras v Spain (Men) 5:00pm AEDT
Saturday 4 March - Hockeyroos v USA (Women) 7:00pm AEDT
Sunday 5 March - Argentina v Spain (Men) 5:00pm AEDT
Sunday 5 March - Argentina v USA (Women) 7:00pm AEDT
Tickets available through Ticketek.
FIH Pro League 2022-23 Season - Rourkela Match Schedule
10 March - India v Germany
11 March - Kookaburras v Germany
12 March - India v Kookaburras
13 March - India v Germany
14 March - Germany v Kookaburras
15 March - India v Kookaburras
Matches start at 7:00pm local time (12:30am AEDT). Rourkela is 5 hours and 30 minutes behind AEDT.
Full FIH Pro League 2022-23 Match Schedule
Kookaburras team - FIH Pro League 2022-23 Season Hobart (28 February - 5 March)
Name Age Hometown, State Caps (Goals)
Jacob Anderson 25 Mackay, QLD 47 (19)
Jayden Atkinson 21 Cairns, QLD -
Josh Beltz 27 Hobart, TAS 82 (4)
Tim Brand 24 Chatswood, NSW 72 (27)
Tom Craig 27 Lane Cove, NSW 111 (36)
Matthew Dawson 28 Killarney Vale, NSW 179 (13)
Johan Durst (gk) 31 Melbourne, VIC 16 (0)
Nathan Ephraums 23 Keysborough, VIC 38 (22)
Blake Govers 26 Wollongong, NSW 136 (127)
Jake Harvie 24 Dardanup, WA 100 (5)
Jeremy Hayward 29 Darwin, NT 200 (100)
Tim Howard 26 Wakerley, QLD 103 (1)
Craig Marais 20 Brighton East, VIC 5 (0)
Dylan Martin 25 Wagga Wagga, NSW 24 (0)
Eddie Ockenden 35 Hobart, TAS 408 (72)
Ben Rennie (gk) 32 Perth, WA 8 (0)
Lachlan Sharp 25 Lithgow, NSW 69 (14)
Jack Welch 25 Hobart, TAS 16 (8)
Ky Willott 21 Newcastle, NSW 15 (4)
Aran Zalewski 32 Margaret River, WA 228 (33)
Kookaburras team - FIH Pro League 2022-23 Season Rourkela (10-15 March)
Name Age Hometown, State Caps (Goals)
Jacob Anderson 25 Mackay, QLD 47 (19)
Davis Atkin 20 Canberra, ACT -
Jayden Atkinson 21 Cairns, QLD -
Hayden Beltz 25 Hobart, TAS -
Josh Beltz 27 Hobart, TAS 82 (4)
James Collins 23 Perth, WA 6 (0)
Johan Durst (gk) 31 Melbourne, VIC 16 (0)
Nathan Ephraums 23 Keysborough, VIC 38 (22)
Anand Gupte 24 Canberra, ACT -
Jake Harvie 24 Dardanup, WA 100 (5)
Tim Howard 26 Wakerley, QLD 103 (1)
Craig Marais 20 Brighton East, VIC 5 (0)
Eddie Ockenden 35 Hobart, TAS 408 (72)
Ben Rennie (gk) 32 Perth, WA 8 (0)
Ben Staines 25 Goulburn, NSW (plays for ACT) -
Lachlan Sharp 25 Lithgow, NSW 69 (14)
Jack Welch 25 Hobart, TAS 16 (8)
Jake Whetton 31 Brisbane, QLD 245 (71)
Ky Willott 21 Newcastle, NSW 15 (4)
Aran Zalewski 32 Margaret River, WA 228 (33)
