Hockey: Garrard geared for full honours

Brett Garrard, the England Under-21 captain, is in line for his first full cap in Islamabad where the national side compete in Pakistan's Five Nations Golden Jubilee tournament between 16 and 23 March.

The Guildford midfielder is one of two uncapped players selected: East Grinstead's 23-year-old captain, Stuart Head, also joins the squad which contains just four players from Britain's Olympic contingent.

Thus, the team has an untried look about it and will be severely tested in a field which includes the Netherlands, the Olympic champions, Pakistan, the world champions, Australia, and Germany. Much will depend on the two senior players remaining from Atlanta, the goalkeeper David Luckes, and the 26-year-old Russell Garcia, three times an Olympian and now playing with the HDM Club in the Hague.

After naming his first squad since Atlanta, the manager, David Whittle, said: "As usual after a major tournament, various key players are not available, which has given the opportunity to some rising stars, together with certain players who did not make the Olympics."

Cannock's Bobby Crutchley, who in the past 18 months has topped the goalscoring in the Australian, English and Italian national leagues, has the chance to resume his international career. However, Calum Giles, the penalty corner specialist and one of the limited successes in Atlanta, has not been selected.

ENGLAND SQUAD: R Garcia (HDM), D Luckes, S Head (both East Grinstead), R Crutchley, B Sharpe, A Humphrey (all Cannock), J Wallis, N Conway (both Teddington), M Pearn (Reading), J Lewis (Havant), I Morrison, J Lee (both Old Loughtonians), D Hall, B Garrard (both Guildford), B Waugh (Southgate), G Fordham (Hounslow).