Alana Kavanagh Selected For Hockeyroos Against India

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athlete, Alana Kavanagh, is one of three new players in the Katrina Powell-coached Hockeyroos squad who are expected to make their international debuts during the upcoming home series against India.

Kavanagh (pictured above) joins fellow NSWIS athletes – Jocelyn Bartram, Zoe Newman, Alice Arnott, Courtney Schonell,  Grace Stewart, Maddison Smith and Abby Wilson – in the squad that will play three Test matches at Adelaide’s MATE Stadium from 18-21 May.

The 20 year old Kavanagh’s selection follows her feat of being named the Player of the Tournament at this year’s Under 21 Championships. She’ll be joined by Victorian duo Olivia Downes and Aisling Utri as newcomers to the squad. Experienced defender Maddy Fitzpatrick has also been added from the original team that was announced in early April.

The quartet replace Meg Pearce, Karri Somerville, Shanea Tonkin and Georgia Wilson who have been ruled out with injury.

Kavanagh, Downes and Utri join Arnott and Pippa Morgan in being considered to play their first international matches.

There have also been three additions to the Australia A team for the two matches against India on 25 and 27 May. Queensland trio Casey Dolkens, Ruby Harris and Jade Smith come into an Australia A team that features a selection of Australia’s best emerging women’s hockey talent.

NSWIS is represented strongly in Australia A through Kavanagh, Arnott, Newman, Smith and Wilson.

The Hockeyroos’ three-match series against India will be the first time Australia’s flagship women’s hockey team has played in South Australia since 2017.

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 Series
MATE Stadium, Adelaide

Match 1 – Thursday 25 May 2023 (6.30pm local, 7.00pm AEST)
Match 2 – Saturday 27 May 2023 (6.30pm local, 7.00pm AEST)

Hockeyroos team for India Series in Adelaide

• Bolded names denotes NSWIS Scholarship athletes

Australia A Team for matches against India in Adelaide
Alice Arnott (NSW), Maddison Brooks (TAS), Casey Dolkens (QLD), Olivia Downes (VIC), Rachel Frusher (WA), Morgan Gallagher (QLD), Ruby Harris (QLD), Rene Hunter (NSW), Carly James (VIC), Alana Kavanagh (NSW), Josie Lawton (VIC), Line Malan (WA), Pippa Morgan (WA), Zoe Newman (NSW), Jade Smith (QLD), Maddison Smith (NSW), Aisling Utri (VIC), Abby Wilson (NSW).