Australian Hockey has announced its list of 25 players who will be representing the country during the new FIH Pro League season. The news comes at a time when the Kookaburras are set to retain their Pro League crown and gear for the Olympics to be held in Paris in 2024.

Batch has kept the nucleus of the team that won the gold in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, but has also given a new look to the international team. The squad has the services of co-captains Aran Zalewski and Eddie Ockenden, which will be a great boost in leadership in the team.

Some of the more surprising selections include 19-year-old striker Flynn Ogilvie who performed well in the recent national championships. Ogilvie’s selection means renewed faces in the Australian forward line as the youngster is expected to offer pace and creativity in the attacking line.

Goal sees Andrew Charter taking his usual position as the first choice goalkeeper while Johan Durst takes his usual position as the backup goalkeeper. Defensive line is back with Matthew Swann from the injured list and joins the defensive line which has Jake Harvie and Tim Howard.

The midfield is also well seasoned especially with Tom Craig, Jake Whetton, and Lachlan Sharp making the list. They will be accompanied by the up and coming Nathan Ephraums who has been revelatory for his club side.

The following is the comment from the coach of the team, Batch, “We have taken the right squad which we believe can compete at the highest level of the game. The Pro League is a good preparation ground for the Olympics since it affords us the best time to perfect on our formation and strategies. ”

The Kookaburras’ Pro League season begins in the next month with few home games against India and then few away games in Europe. The team will be expecting to progress from the achievements of the previous season, whereby the team had a good record of 11-2-1 after 14 games.

The head of Hockey Australia, Toni Cumpston said that Pro League games would be crucial for the preparation of the squad to the Olympic Games. “The Pro League is a tournament which provides us with frequent matches against some of the best teams in the world,” she said, adding that the competition is crucial for the players to gain experience and for the team to evaluate its development as it prepares for the Paris tournament.

The announcement of the squad has received positive response from the Australian hockey fans who are keen to see the performance of the team before the Olympics. The Kookaburras have a good mix of veterans and young talents and this means that they will be able to maintain the dominance they have been exhibiting in the international field.