Hockey: England on trial over seven days

ENGLAND play the Netherlands in a four nations tournament in Madrid tomorrow, the first of seven internationals in successive days, writes Bill Colwill.

Spain and South Africa follow and then from Monday onwards at Bisham Abbey, England face the United States, Australia twice and the Americans again.

By next Thursday evening, England should have a good idea which players are going to be stepping on the plane for the World Cup in Australia in November.

David Whittle, the manager, confirmed that selections for the Bisham games will be made from the full training squad in addition to those playing in Madrid.

Included will be Havant's Calum Giles, originally selected for the Spanish trip but then forced to wait for his England debut. This followed the need to restructure the Madrid party as a result of a cartilage injury suffered by John Shaw, the England captain.

On top of the fact that their Madrid opponents are also preparing for the World Cup, games against Spain are usually close, while little is known about South Africa.

ENGLAND SQUAD: D Luckes, J Lee (East Grinstead), S Mason (Firebrands), J Laslett (capt), P McGuire (Teddington), S Singh (Southgate), R Thompson, J Potter, S Hazlitt (Hounslow), N Thompson, J Halls (Old Loughtonians), M Sutton (Bournville), A Degun (Barford Tigers), R Davis (Harleston Magpies), R Garcia (Polo Club Barcelona), D Williams (Havant).