Kookaburras keeper retained for Malaysia

Goalkeeper Andrew Charter's recent form has helped him book a place in the Australia's hockey squad for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.

Goalkeeper Tristan Clemons has been left out of the Australia's squad for a key Commonwealth Games lead-up event after selectors couldn't dismiss the recent form of a veteran rival.

The omission of Clemons, who was part of the Kookaburras squad that won the World League Final last year, is among several changes to world hockey's top-ranked team for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.

Andrew Charter's form against the Netherlands in the recent Test series kept him in the team, ahead of Clemons, for the March tournament in Malaysia.

Charter, 30, is among the most experienced in the squad with 140 caps.

Kookaburras coach Colin Batch said the team was a good mixture of experience and youth.

"They're learning quickly and we want to be able to perform every time we go out on the pitch, so that's why Azlan Shah is important preparation for the Commonwealth Games," he said.

Having missed the Dutch series, Tom Craig (hamstring), Trent Mitton (thumb) and Flynn Ogilvie (hamstring) all return from injury.

Forward Jeremy Hayward remains sidelined with a wrist injury but is expected to be available for the Games on the Gold Coast in April.

Midfielder Tristan White and defender Matthew Swann are unavailable due to work commitments.

Australia's Sultan Azlan Shah Cup campaign begins on March 3 against England before playing the play the hosts, India, Ireland and world No.2 Argentina.

Kookaburras squad: Daniel Beale (Qld), Andrew Charter (ACT), Tom Craig (NSW), Matthew Dawson (NSW), Jeremy Edwards (Tas), Blake Govers (NSW), Jake Harvie (WA), Tim Howard (Qld), Aaron Kleinschmidt (Vic), Mark Knowles (c, Qld), Tyler Lovell (WA), Trent Mitton (WA), Edward Ockenden (Tas), Flynn Ogilvie (NSW), Lachlan Sharp (NSW), Jacob Whetton (Qld), Dylan Wotherspoon (NSW/Qld), Aran Zalewski (WA).


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Source: AAP



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