Hockey: Hager hands the rookies a chance

Mark Hager. Photo / Dean Purcell

There is an experimental look about the New Zealand women's hockey team who will square off in a five-test series with India starting in Palmerston North today.

With five first-choice players still finishing club commitments in Europe and others, including Stacey Carr, sidelined through injury, Black Sticks coach Mark Hager has dipped into his reserves. He has called in Amelia Gibson, Amanda Green, Samantha Charlton and Alana Millington from the development squad. Gibson, an 18-year-old goalkeeper from Canterbury, and Green, 23, a North Harbour defender, are set to make their international debuts.

Goalkeeper Bianca Russell might be fit for the last three tests in Napier and Wellington but midfielder Ella Gunson, 20, who has won 18 caps, could be out for seven weeks with foot tendon and ligament tears.

"While it would be good to have all the players available, the series gives us the chance to see even more players as we prepare for the Champions Trophy," said Hager.

Given the results of recent meetings between the two countries, it promises to be a keenly-contested series. "In women's hockey, anyone can beat anyone as we showed when we beat Argentina," said Hager. "We are now ranked ninth in the world and India 13th but, realistically, they are closer to being 10 or 11."

With Kayla Sharland, Krystal Forgesson, Emily Naylor and Katie Glynn still in Holland and Gemma Flynn in Germany, the Black Sticks are down on experience. Clarissa Eshuis is sidelined with a hamstring injury so Hager will also be looking for set-play variations, given the absence of her drag-flicking ability.

India have an average age of just 22 but their players boast an average 52 caps, whereas New Zealand, at 23 years, are slightly older but have an average of only just 24 caps. No New Zealand player has played 100 internationals - long-serving goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit (with 83) is the most experienced, though 20-year-old Charlotte Harrison has already played 73 times for her country. Indian captain Surinder Kaur has 140 caps, while two other players boast 100 or more.

At the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, India beat New Zealand 1-0 en-route to winning silver. A year earlier, at the Indira Ghandi Gold Cup in New Delhi, India won 2-1, while the 2004 series in New Zealand was dominated by the home team.

"This will be the last chance for the players to press claims for the Champions Trophy," said Hager.

"We plan to name that team almost immediately after the series and then step up our preparations before we leave on June 26."

THE SQUAD
Black Sticks to play five-test series with India.-

Anna Thorpe
Laura Douglas
Charlotte Harrison
Alana Millington (Northland)
Natasha Fitzsimons
Jasmin McQuinn
Stacey Michelsen
Amanda Green (North Harbour)
Lucy Talbot
Stacey Brannigan
Sam Harrison (Auckland)
Clarissa Eshuis
Cathryn Finlayson
Kate Mahon (Midlands)
Piki Hamahona (Central)
Beth Jurgeleit
Anita Punt (Wellington)
Kate Saunders
Amelia Gibson
Samantha Charlton (Canterbury)

TEST SCHEDULE
* Saturday, Palmerston North 2pm.

* Sunday, Palmerston North 2pm.

* Wednesday, Napier 7pm.

* May 22, Wellington 1pm.

* May 23, Wellington 2.45pm (live on SS1).