Meadows and Burcher in line For Kookaburra Debuts

WAIS hockey athletes Ross Meadows and Ian Burcher are in line to make their international debuts for the Kookaburras this summer in the series against Holland after both men were named in the Australian squad released today by Hockey Australia.

Meadows and Burcher will be joined in the squad by Beijing Olympians Kiel Brown and Fergus Kavanagh in the first series Australia will play under new national coach Ric Charlesworth.

Burcher has been selected in the Kookaburras squad to fill the void created after legendary defender Bevan George’s retirement following this year’s Olympic Games.

“Both Burcher and Carroll were part of the 2005 Junior World Cup squad and have shown good development ever since. They are strong defenders with good passing skills, but perhaps their best attribute is their flexibility to play in a variety of positions.” said Charlesworth.

Meadows will be hoping to get the goalkeeper position ahead of Victoria’s George Bazeley when Australia next plays. Charlesworth has suggested both men face exciting futures.

“Meadows as been the next keeper in line for some time and has shown great development. This will be an opportunity for him to establish himself in the squad. Bazeley has been Victoria’s number two goalkeeper behind Stephen Mowlam but will now have an opportunity at the international level.” said Charlesworth.

The three match series between Australia and the Netherlands will be played in Bunbury, Busselton and Perth from January 20-25 2009.