Hockeyroos v India Test Series Preview

Hockeyroos v India Test Series Preview

Preview by Bevan Jones

Australia’s National Women’s Hockey team, the Hockeyroos will be in action in Adelaide for the first time since playing Japan in November 2017, when they take on India in a much anticipated three match series at MATE Stadium. 

The Hockeyroos are currently ranked 3rd in the world and has built a fierce rivalry with India in recent times. 

In their last meeting, the Hockeyroos recorded a thrilling shootout victory in the semi-finals stage of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. 

The two teams met prior to this in 2021, when India caused a big upset by knocking Australia out at the quarter final stage of the Tokyo Olympics. 

The three-match series with India will be the perfect preparation for the Hockeyroos’ Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers, which are in the form of a best-of-three series (Oceania Cup) against New Zealand in August. 

The Hockeyroos will have two South Australian stars on the team. Hattie Shand who was part of the Bronze Medal team from the 2022 FIH Women’s World Cup, and Jane Claxton who is a veteran of 214 international appearances and captained the Hockeyroos the last time the team played in Adelaide. 
 
Shand said she was excited to come back home and play in front of her home crowd in Adelaide. 

“Playing at a place I grew up in and where I played a lot of my junior career is something I’m really looking forward to,” Shand reflected. 

“Playing in front of friends and family as well as former teammates always brings a sense of pride and makes me grateful for the support the local hockey community has here.  

“Our team has been playing some exciting hockey, so we’re excited to showcase this and it’s going to be really special to play in my home state.” 

Shand said the series with India would be a good lead into next year’s Paris Olympics. 

“All games we play at the moment are great preparation for Paris, or more specifically, the Oceania Cup in August which are the Olympic qualifiers,” Shand said. 

“This series allows us to continue developing our processes and connections as a team, as well as exposing more players to international competition.” 

With five debutants in the squad for the series with India, Claxton said they were excited to see how they would go against a side they have had some good battles within recent times. 
 
“We have developed a rivalry with India with the Tokyo Olympics and with Birmingham Commonwealth Games last year and where it’s been those cut-throat stakes,” Claxton said. 
 
“This time round there’s not quite as much on the line, it’s more about developing the girls into the international level and ensuring the new girls coming into the team are comfortable. 
 
“I can definitely put myself in their shoes and it can be a nerve-wracking time for the debutants to move to that next level, it should be an exciting three-game series with India.” 
 
Following the three-match series, an Australia A team made up of players predominantly from the Women’s National Development Squad will take on India in two matches on 25-26 May. 

As mentioned, these teams have developed quite a rivalry which makes for a very exciting series. 

With the Hockeyroos on home soil and with a parochial home crowd behind them, I am tipping an Aussie series win 2-1. 
 

Hockeyroos v India Series
MATE Stadium, Adelaide 
* Match 1 - Thursday 18 May 2023 (6.30pm local, 7.00pm AEST)
* Match 2 - Saturday 20 May 2023 (6.30pm local, 7.00pm AEST)
* Match 3 - Sunday 21 May 2023 (6.00pm local, 6.30pm AEST)

Australia A v India
MATE Stadium, Adelaide 
* Match 1 - Thursday 25 May (6:45pm local time)
* Match 2 - Saturday 27 May (6:45pm local time)