The Kookaburras will play four matches against the Black Sticks ahead of the upcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Kookaburras will be hoping to replicate the recent series victory by the Hockeyroos when they take on the Men’s Vantage Black Sticks in New Zealand in a 4-match day series starting tomorrow at the National Hockey Centre in Auckland.

Originally planned to be played alongside the Women earlier this month, the Men’s tournament was postponed following a COVID interruption, affecting the New Zealand squad.

The Trans-Tasman Series against the Black Sticks will be crucial preparation for the forthcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Securing a seventh straight Commonwealth Games gold medal is the next major focus for the Kookaburras before the Men’s World Cup in January 2023.

This year notably marks the 100-year anniversary since the first test match between Australia and New Zealand Men’s Teams.

The first match took place on the 27th of September 1922 as an Australian touring team headed across the Tasman Sea bound for the New Zealand north island city of Palmerston North.

Since that first encounter, Australian and New Zealand Men’s Teams have played 152 times over the past 100 years.

The nation’s women’s teams have met 151 times following the completion of their recent 4-match Trans-Tasman Series.

The 4-match Trans-Tasman series begins tomorrow and broadcast LIVE in Australia on LIVEHockey with the first match free and the remaining matches requiring a series subscription.

Match Schedule:

Tuesday 31 May – 19.05pm NZT (17.05pm AEST)

Thursday 2nd June – 19.05pm NZT (17.05pm AEST)

Saturday 4th June – 13.35pm NZT (11.35am AEST)

Sunday 5th June – 13.35pm NZT (11.35am AEST)

Kookaburras 2022 Trans-Tasman Series Squad: