Australia announce 18-man squad for Hockey Men's World Cup 2023

The Kookaburras will be looking to add to their third title.

Three-time champions Australia have the right mix of talent and experience in their squad to go all the way in Odisha. Fresh from the 4-1 win over India in the five-match test series in their home country, the Kookaburras have announced an 18-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2023 to be held in Bhuvaneshwar and Rourkela in India.

Five World Cup debutants make the cut for the Kookaburras. Colin Batch has also included seasoned veteran Eddie Ockenden, who is gunning up for his fourth World Cup appearance. A bitter exit at the hands of the Netherlands in a shoot-out in the 2018 edition is still fresh in the players’ minds.

A very versatile unit, Australia will hope that Tim Brand can recover in time from his hamstring injury, while midfield maestro Tom Craig is fit to feature after a wait on the sidelines.

The Kookaburras are slotted in Pool A with FIH Men's Nations Cup 2022 winners South Africa, Argentina, and France. Australia will open the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2023 campaign against France on the 13th of January.

Australia's FIH Men's World Cup 2023 squad:

Goalkeepers:  Andrew Charter, Johan Durst

Defenders: Jake Harvie, Tim Howard, Joshua Beltz, Matthew Dawson, Jeremy Hayward

Midfielders: Aran Zalewski, Lachlan Sharp, Tom Craig, Flynn Ogilve, Daniel Beale, Eddie Ockenden

Forwards: Tim Brand, Nathan Ephraums, Blake Govers, Jake Whetton, Tom Wickham

Travelling Reserves: Jacob Anderson, Dylan Martin

Australia in FIH Men's World Cup:

Australia are a three-time winner of the World Cup, with their first win coming in 1986. The Kookaburras followed it with back-to-back wins in 2014 and 2018. They also finished as the runners-up in 2002 and 2006. Australia has finished in the top four in every edition since 1978.