Hockey: Australian test for England

BARRY DANCER, the England coach and Terry Walsh, Australia's chief coach, former team-mates in their national squad, will be in opposite camps as their teams meet in their first match in the Sultan Azlan Shah Six Nations Cup in Ipoh today.

Dancer is under no illusions as to the task he faces. England's last victory against Australia was in Melbourne in 1985 and only last summer, before Dancer took over, England suffered their worst ever defeat when they lost 10-0 to the Kookaburras at Basingstoke.

Dancer said yesterday: "Malaysia was a useful start but we need to build on our game."

Although disappointed by the shooting in the Malaysia match he felt the abundance of attacking play in the second half was to be commended.

The Australian team is a mix of youth and experience, from Jay Stacy and Stephen Davies with over 200 caps each to three from the Junior World Cup squad which took gold in Milton Keynes last September under Dancer.