Hockey: Black Sticks to trial fresh talent in India

Two newcomers, Canterbury defender Bridget Kight and North Harbour midfielder Kate Mahon, have been named in the New Zealand women's team for the Indira Gandhi tournament in India in October.

Kight, 21, has been elevated from the national development squad and could develop into a top international. Mahon, also 21, was selected for the national squad last year after several years in the development side. Both played for the New Zealand under-21 team against Australia last year.

Black Sticks coach Ian Rutledge sees the tournament in New Delhi from October 1-9 as his last opportunity to experiment before the Commonwealth Games next March.

The third notable inclusion is Tauranga defender Diana Weavers, who missed last month's Champions Challenge tournament with a hip injury. Weavers has played more than 150 games for New Zealand and is vice-captain.

North Harbour's Lizzy Igasan, who was named player of the tournament at the Champions Challenge and Canterbury's Jo Galletly, both defenders, are being rested to allow for player development.

Igasan played all 420 minutes for New Zealand at the Champions Challenge and will benefit from a rest before the Oceania Cup series in November, Rutledge said.

"We are in a good position in that we have come from winning a major tournament [Champions Challenge] and have the depth to make three changes without impacting on the strength of the team," he said.

The Indira Gandhi event will help the team prepare for the Oceania Cup and Commonwealth Games. "It is a particularly attractive tournament in terms of the Commonwealth Games from the point of view that it replicates the games format and team make-up," Rutledge said.

The tournament consists of Australia (ranked 3rd in the world), New Zealand (6), India (15), Russia (16), Kazakhstan (24) and Lithuania (26).

At the Commonwealth Games the higher-ranked teams will include Australia, England (8), South Africa (11) and India.

The lower sides will include Malaysia (25), Nigeria (22) and Barbados (28).

"It is important that we prepare against the good teams, but also make sure we put away the perceived lower teams," Rutledge said.

New Zealand consolidated sixth spot in the rankings when they won the Champions Challenge.

They have now moved 321 points clear of seventh-placed Korea, increasing their lead by 202 points under the formula used by the international hockey body to calculate the ranking points.

The squad: Stacey Carr, Honor Dillon, Clarissa Eshuis, Bridget Kight, Frances Kreft, Jane Maley, Emily Naylor, Meredith Orr, Lizzie Ryan (all Canterbury), Sheree Phillips, Kayla Sharland, Anita Wawatai (Manawatu), Kate Mahon, Jaimee Provan (North Harbour), Diana Weavers (Tauranga), Beth Jurgeleit, Suzie Muirhead (captain), Niniwa Roberts-Lang (Wellington).

- NZPA