Nickname: The Kookaburras

How they qualified: Oceania quota*

Notable honours: Olympic gold medallists (2004) 4x Olympic silver medallists (1968, 1976, 1992, 2021), 5x Olympic bronze medallists (1964, 1996, 2000, 2008, 2012), 3x FIH Men’s World Cup winners (1986, 2010, 2014), FIH Hockey Pro League champions (2019), Hockey World League champions (2015, 2017), 15x Champions Trophy winners (1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1999, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018), 7x Commonwealth Games gold medallists (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022), 11x Oceania Cup champions (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019).

Rank in previous WC editions: 1971 – 8th, 1975 – 5th, 1978 – 3rd, 1982 – 3rd, 1986 – 1st, 1990 – 3rd, 1994 – 3rd, 1998 – 4th, 2002 – 2nd, 2006 – 2nd, 2010 – 1st, 2014 – 1st, 2018 – 3rd.

The Kookaburras are the most consistently outstanding men’s hockey team of the last 30 years, having remained in the top four of the FIH World Rankings for the duration of that period. They have won every prize available, including Olympic, World Cup, FIH Hockey Pro League and Oceania Cup titles.

Most recently, the side coached by former striker Colin Batch claimed a sensational seventh Commonwealth Games title, obliterating a hugely talented India team 7-0 in the event final in Birmingham

Nathan Ephraums and Jacob Anderson, the latter a travelling reserve for this event, both scored twice with Blake Govers, Tom Wickham and Flynn Ogilvie also netting in typically devastating display from the brilliant Aussies. A shoot-out loss to Belgium in the gold medal match at the delayed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was painful but may serve as motivation as the brilliant Aussies go in search of a record-equalling fourth world title.

One to watch: Eddie Ockenden One of hockey’s all-time greats, 35-year-old co-captain Ockenden is Australia’s record caps holder, being one of just seven players in the history of men’s hockey to have made more than 400 international appearances. Equally comfortable in defence or midfield and blessed with composure in the most stressful of situations, Ockenden – a world champion with the Kookaburras both 2010 and 2014 – remains a pivotal figure.

* The Oceania Cup could not be completed before the qualification deadline due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two Oceania quota places were filled based on the men’s FIH World Rankings.