The Black Sticks Men are on fire and primed for the Hero Honda FIH World Cup in Delhi next month. Currently ranked eighth in the world, Black Sticks Men’s Coach, Shane McLeod, says the team is hungry to go to the next level and are at their peak.

“We’ve got a depth of talent and experience in this side, and they’re ready – both physically and mentally – to take on the best in the world. “Coming off the back of a solid performance in 2009, our build up has been intensive with a centralized program of training camps in Auckland, every week until we leave. This will culminate in a grueling test series against Australia later this month.

McLeod has picked a team of five strikers, six midfielders, five defenders and two goalkeepers to give him the flexibility to field the best combination for each of the five World Cup pool games. The Hero Honda FIH World Cup kicks off an outstanding year of hockey for the Black Sticks Men, who will also compete in the prestigious ABN AMRO Champions Trophy in August (Monchengladbach, Germany) and the Commonwealth Games in October (Delhi, India).

Team New Zealand: David Green, Nick Haig, Andrew Hayward, Simon Child, Blair Hopping, Dean Couzins, Ryan Archibald, Stephen Graham, Kyle Pontifex, Phil Burrows, Arun Panchia, Shea McAleese, Richard Petherick, Hugo Inglis, Ben Collier, Steve Edwards, Nick Wilson.
Bracketed - decision to be made at later date: Blair Hilton, Joel Baker.
Not Available for Selection: Bradley Shaw, Hayden Shaw.

Source: Hockey New Zealand