Hockey Australia names teams for CWG

Melbourne, June 24 (IANS) Hockey Australia (HA) Tuesday announced its men's and women's teams for the Commonwealth Games (CWG) to be held from July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow, where both teams will look to defend their titles won four years ago in New Delhi.

For many, Glasgow will provide a first taste of CWG with nine men and eight women in the two squads of 16 set to debut.

Mark Knowles, who competed at the 2006 and 2010 editions, leads a team that contains 12 of the World Cup winning side that triumphed in The Hague recently with Australian junior captain Daniel Beale, Trent Mitton, Andrew Philpott and Tristan White, the four new faces.

Chris Ciriello, Fergus Kavanagh, Trent Mitton, Eddie Ockenden, Simon Orchard and Matthew Swann, who won gold in 2010 by beating India 8-0 in the final, will also look to defend their title. Andrew Charter, Matthew Gohdes, Kieran Govers, Jake Whetton and Aran Zalewski will all compete in their first CWG.

Graham Reid and Paul Gaudoin have been appointed joint head coaches for the men's team following Ric Charlesworth's decision to finish his commitments with the team prior to the Games.

Women's captain Madonna Blyth is also set to compete at her third CWG having won gold in 2006 and 2010. She will lead a team containing 15 of the side that recently won silver at the World Cup.

The Australian men's team has won all the four golds since the sport was introduced into the CWG programme in 1998 Kuala Lumpur. The women's team has won three golds and one bronze.

Men's team: Daniel Beale, Andrew Charter, Chris Ciriello, Matt Gohdes, Kieran Govers, Jeremy Hayward, Fergus Kavanagh, Mark Knowles, Trent Mitton, Eddie Ockenden, Simon Orchard, Andrew Philpott, Matthew Swann, Jake Whetton, Tristan White, Aran Zalewski.

Women's team: Madonna Blyth, Edwina Bone, Jane Claxton, Casey Eastham, Anna Flanagan, Kate Jenner, Jodie Kenny, Rachael Lynch, Karri McMahon, Georgia Nanscawen, Ashleigh Nelson, Georgie Parker, Brooke Peris, Emily Smith, Jayde Taylor, Kellie White.