Black Sticks Men’s coach, Shane McLeod is continuing with his talent development programme by naming two more debutants in the team to play in the Azlan Shah Tournament in April in Malaysia. NZ will face Egypt, Malaysia, Pakistan and India in the 5 nation’s tournament and although a number of front line players will still be missing – the team will be keen to progress from the disappointing series loss to India last week.
The Black Sticks will be bolstered by the return of Olympians Kyle Pontifex, Blair Hopping, Dave Kosoof and Ben Collier – Hopping in particular will add some much needed steel and direction to the Black Sticks defence.
The two debutants are Arun Panchia from Auckland and Isaac Staples from Canterbury – both members of the recently named Junior Black Sticks team.
A number of high profile players will miss the trip including Ryan Archibald, Hayden Shaw, Phil Burrows, Simon Child, Brad Shaw and Shea McAleese.
Three players who were part of the team who went down 2-0 to India on the weekend – David Green and Shay Neal of North Harbour and James Nation of Auckland – have been left out of the team. Nation is being rested.
The Black Sticks Men to play in the Azlan Shah:
Ben Collier North Harbour
David Kosoof North Harbour
Blair Hopping North Harbour
Steve Edwards North Harbour
Bryce Collins North Harbour
Priyesh Bhana North Harbour
Dean Couzins Auckland
Arun Panchia Auckland
Richard Petherick Midlands
Lloyd Stephenson Midlands
Casey Henwood Midlands
Stephen Graham Midlands
Nick Wilson Central
Kyle Pontifex Wellington
Joel Baker Wellington
Andy Hayward Canterbury
Nick Haig Canterbury
Isaac Staples Canterbury
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