Several Australian hockey stars have joined their captain Jamie Dwyer in making themselves available for the prestigious Hockey India League. As many as four Australian co-captains Mark Knowles, Fergus Kavanagh, Liam de Young and Edward Ockenden will be part of the Hockey India League Players Auction to be held next month.
Hockey India Secretary-General and Hockey India League Chairman Dr Narinder Batra said the presence of a number of Australian stars would add to the quality of the league. It is our pleasure to unveil a star-studded list of Australian players who have signed contracts to be available for the Hockey India League Players Auction, he said.
Luke Dorner, Russell Ford, Kiel Brown, Simon Orchard, Christopher Ciriello and Rob Hammond are among the other popular stars from Australia who are among those who are eager to showcase their skills in the six-team Hockey India League that will begin on January 5, 2013 and climax on February 3.
The 28-year-old Knowles is regarded as one of the best defenders in the world and has played close to 200 international games. Knowles was named the FIH Young Player of the Year in 2007 and by that time he had already been part of the team that won the Olympic Games at Athens in 2004 and the Champions Trophy in Chennai in 2005. Delhi Fans will remember him for his role in Australia’s victories in the FIH World Cup and the Commonwealth Games here in 2010.
Kavanagh, 27, is another respected defender who has the experience of more than 150 internationals. The Western Australian has been a key member of Australia’s successful campaigns in the FIH World Cup and Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 besides Champions Trophy winning squads in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
With nearly 300 caps, the 31-year-old de Young is among the world’s most seasoned all-rounders who can play anywhere on the pitch and move with great speed. The Queenslander is another player who was part of Australia’s successes in Delhi in 2010 in the FIH World Cup and Commonwealth Games.
The 25-year-old Ockenden is a natural striker who has adapted himself well in the midfield in most of the 170-oddgames that he has played for Australia. The FIH Young Player of Year in 2008, the Tasmanian tasted success in the FIH World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in2010 and has got two Olympic Games bronze medals and four FIH Champions Trophy gold medals in his showcase.
Doerner is one of Australia’s drag flick specialists and his conversion rate has contributed to the team’s success. He has scored 112 goals and has achieved great success, winning the FIH World Cup besides an unprecedented four Champions Trophies titles, two Commonwealth Games gold and a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics.
The Australians join 150 Indians and 15 Pakistanis who have already signed up for the HIL Players’ Auction. Over the coming days, Hockey India League will unveil the players from other parts of the world who have signed up for the Players’ Auction and are keen to play in the tournament that has been given a window by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
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