'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Australian men’s hockey team would kick start preparations for the forthcoming FIH Hockey World League (HWL) semifinals with a four-match Test series against South Korea beginning next month.
The four-match Test series, which will be the first international assignment for the Kookaburras on home turf, will be played at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Perth, Western Australia from May 3-9.
The world number two Kookaburras would rub shoulders with eighth ranked South Korea in the first fixture on May 3 at 7:00 pm local time.
The two teams play the second Test on May 5.
The yellow-and-green brigade would lock horns with the Asian powerhouses in the third Test on May 7.
The fourth and final Test would be played on May 9.
The four-match Test series would be Australia’s first tournament since winning the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament last March.
The Kookaburras had overcome stiff resistance from hosts Malaysia before beating them 3-2 in a needle contest to win the tournament for the record seventh time.
The Ric Charlesworth-coached side are expected to try out several new faces during the four-match Test series in a bid to find the right balance for the Hockey World League semifinals.
It may be mentioned here that Australia had inducted a slew of new faces in their squad for the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament.
Daniel Beale, Craig Boyne, Nick Budgeon, Josh Miller and Daniel Mirecki all made their senior international debut for the Kookaburras.
The Kookaburras entered the Ipoh tournament minus several experienced campaigners like five-times FIH World Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer, Mark Knowles, Eddie Ockenden, drag-flick specialists Chris Ciriello and Kieran Govers, Eddie Ockenden, Simon Orchard and Matthew Swann.
All these players were part of the London Olympics as well as the 34th FIH Champions Trophy teams.
In fact, the Australian national team for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup featured only seven players from the 2012 Champions Trophy gold medal winning team – George Bazeley, Joel Carroll, Andrew Charter, Trent Mitton, Glenn Simpson, Jacob Whetton and Tristan White.
Vastly experienced Rob Hammond, a 2004 Olympic gold medallist, led the team in Ipoh.
South Korea will be keen to put up a strong showing in Perth. They had finished fourth in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup where they lost 1-2 to New Zealand in the bronze medal play-off tie.
The red brigade managed to win just one game in the league phase, drawing two and losing as many games. Their only win came over India whom they pipped 2-1. They lost 2-3 to Malaysia, 0-3 to New Zealand before showing some pluck in their final two league games, drawing 3-3 with Australia and 2-2 with Pakistan respectively.
The Koreans can take a lot of heart from that 3-3 draw against Australia in the upcoming four-match Test series.
Australia will feature in the first Hockey World League semifinals slated to be held in Rotterdam (the Netherlands) from June 13-22 – they would be pitted against sides like Olympic silver medallists Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and India.
South Korea will take part in the second Hockey World League semifinals slated to be held in Johor Bahru (Malaysia) from June 29-July 7 – they would be pitted against sides like Olympic champions Germany, England, Pakistan, hosts Malaysia and Argentina.
