Black Sticks opt for experience
Black Sticks coach Darren Smith has stuck with his tried and true players, naming an established squad to go to the World Cup in India.
The men will be looking to build on April’s Commonwealth Games silver medal success as they head to Bhubaneswar later this month.
Eight members of the team have more than 100 caps.
The 186-test veteran Blair Tarrant will captain the side after missing the Commonwealth Games through injury.
The side will aim to improve on its recent World Cup efforts of
7th in 2014 and 9th in 2010. The team departs for Bhubaneswar on November 14, via Kuala Lumpur where they play three matches against Malaysia before making their way on to India.
They will play France first-up on November 30.
Also in their pool are current Olympic champions Argentina, whom the Black Sticks have not come up against since before Rio
2016.
Spain will be their final game of pool play on December 7.
Experienced Jared Panchia is likely to bring up his 100th cap in the pre-tournament series with Malaysia.
This will be the first time Smith has had full availability of the players since the team competed on the Gold Coast.
Smith has competed in three World Cups as a Black Stick, but this will be his first as head coach. He was assistant coach in the 2010 campaign.
All games will be played at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, which previously played host to the 2014 Champions Trophy.